The outrage from gender equality activists spurred a much-needed debate in South Africa and throughout the world about rape culture and its deadly effects. Recently, Pan-African Anti-GBV, Soul City Institute, Pegg Entertainment limited, Badili Africa Initiative and Ford foundation launched their second anti GBV pan-African campaign.
The first campaign we looked at the GBV debate through Mutua Matheka’s art in the first. The second offering, which took place from 23-27 June , 2021, aims to address the prevalent issue of rape culture in our African society, now more than ever with Lockdown affecting urban, rural, and peri-urban women, as well as the impunity that allows it to flourish, and how it affects the lives of women, girls, and society.
With the onset of a third wave of COVID -19 infections, which has prompted a lockdown, incidences of GBV, rape, and adolescent pregnancies will continue to rise, necessitating intentional and inventive approaches to successfully respond, treat, and prevent GBV.
Meanwhile, the media has a significant impact on rape culture and SGBV stories.
It frequently desensitises individuals to the gravity of sexual abuse, sexualises and objectifies female bodies, and frequently sympathises with offenders rather than survivors. When perpetrators play a passive role in these stories, debates and campaigns then heavily focus on what women and girls should and can do to stay safe yet as it is, women and girls are doing so much to stay safe.
This method of narrating tales influences how viewers and readers interpret these events since, for those who have not experienced gender-based violence, media representation is the primary window they have into that experience. The words we choose can exacerbate the very issues we are attempting to address.
The Campaign
Pan-African Anti-GBV Radio campaigns with discussions revolving around social cultural norms that fuel rape culture, sexual and gender-based violence and issues around consent. The discussions will further centre on mental health for both women, girls, and men around prevention of all forms of Gender based violence and how to deal with trauma.
Pan-African GBV Online Social Media Campaign will include, Anti GBV Animation (On mental health & Rape Culture) & Anti GBV creative e-cards pushed by civic organizations leaders and influencers from Kenya & South Africa
E-CARDS with consolidated information on how to reach out to AID agencies, Mental Health, Hotline, Shelters, and Police Agencies.Radio Campaign on Urban stations creating conversations around Rape Culture.Training Workshop for journalists on how to tell Gender based violence related stories
