YAM-Mozambique prepares ambitious campaign for 16 Days of Activism

Every year from November 25 – International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to December 10 – Human Rights Day, the world gathers for 16 Days of Activism to end violence against women and girls. Action is stimulated by the gross violations of women’s and girls’ rights that have been escalating to alarming proportions for far too long due to impunity, silence and stigma.

Around the world, governments , civil society organisations, women’s organisations, youth, the private sector, the media join forces during the 16 Days of Activism campaign to advocate for an end to violence against women and girls. This year is no exception. YAM (Youth Action Movement) Mozambique is preparing an “ambitious” campaign, under the motto “No to violence against women and girls”. The expectations among the volunteers is huge given that last year the young activists of YAM and members of the Board of Directors of AMODEFA joined forces in Maputo to highlight the campaign, an initiative considered a pilot that had positive results.

”We had no previous experience and we ran a 16 Days of Activism campaign which was fabulous in terms of results. We went to the street and stopped at the traffic lights of the main points of the city. Pedestrians interacted and asked several questions about Gender-Based Violence and Sexual and Reproductive Health and drivers stopped and asked questions about the signs that we had in our hands. We saw them glued to their car windows, which was wonderful”, commented the National President of YAM, Angelina Langa, referring to the 2021 campaign. 

A successfull awareness campaign

In 2021 YAM youth and AMODEFA members carried out an awareness campaign for the residents of Maputo City to stop violence against women and girls, in particular violence that jeopardize their Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). A group of thirty volunteers took turns to sensitize motorists and pedestrians at the main intersections of Maputo using signs, stickers and posters with 16 different messages that, in addition to physical distribution, were massively shared on social networks. 

A few examples of messages and moments from last year:

“YAM is a movement committed to empowering women and tackling Gender Based Violence (GBV) issues. We want to awaken and impact more people,” explained Angelina Langa. 

This year the activities take place in all AMODEFA’s offices throughout the country, in a coordinated way to guarantee simultaneity during the activities. There will be specific dates on which everyone will go out, participate in media, disseminating coordinated messages on social networks. Days for online debates are also scheduled.

Different communication activities are planned

As part of this, on December 1, the activists of YAM and members of AMODEFA will carry out a march exhibiting visual communication materials and artistic manifestations, which will culminate in football fields and other places suitable for addressing issues about HIV, where they will hold exhibitions and provide health services to participants. A parade with the display of signs, distribution of stickers with messages against violence and distribution of condoms is also planned in several neighbourhoods by AMODEFA’s offices on November 25.

A round table discussion is also planned for December 10 addressing gender, female empowerment and transformative masculinities. In addition, a reflective webinar around the prevalence of HIV in Mozambique and strategies for its mitigation is planned, as well as the participation of youth activists in TV programs discussing violence against women.

Violence against women and girls takes different shapes and forms. In recent years it has reached worrying levels due to the COVID-19 pandemic, from domestic violence, reduced access to sources of income, and limited access to health services. Although this impacts everyone, women and girls have been and continue to be disproportionately affected. Therefore, it is important to maintain sexual and reproductive health services for women and girls so that they continue to have control over their bodies, and above all reduce their vulnerability to atrocities like premature unions.