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Campaign
16 Days of Activism
Against Gender Violence
in Malaysia
by Women's Aid Organisation (WAO)
25 Nov 2008
In Malaysia, Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) joined this campaign in 1998. WAO began this campaign in Malaysia by working with The Star newspaper to produce a 16-day series on Violence Against Women. The campaign grew with more partners when Amnesty International Malaysia (AI), Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) and Sisters in Islam (SIS) joined WAO in 2004.
This year, we welcome another 2 new partners, All Women Action Society (AWAM) and Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (EMPOWER) but will not be joined by Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC).
Therefore, WAO, in collaboration with Amnesty International Malaysia (AI), Sisters in Islam (SIS), All Women Action Society (AWAM) and Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (EMPOWER), is experimenting with online activism by setting a group, on the world’s most popular social networking website, Facebook called WAO - 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence in Malaysia. This group was set up on 25 November 2008 and has 283 members till date.
Hence, we would like to urge the public to join us by becoming a member of this Facebook group, participate in the online activities, and get involved in the fight against violence against women.
The objectives of this campaign are:
- To raise awareness on the issue of the various forms of violence against women through interactive online activities;
- To reach out to the younger generation, urging them to be informed and to take action against the issue of violence against women
To be a part of our FACEBOOK ONLINE ACTIVISM, people are encouraged to:-
- Join the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Facebook group and support the cause. Just search for “WAO - 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence in Malaysia”.
- Put up our specially designed logo as their Facebook profile photo.
- View all the videos and information by various NGOs on the issues affecting women.
- Be informed on all the ground activities held all over Malaysia by visiting our Facebook group everyday throughout the 16 days.
- Join our T-Shirt designing activity.
- Print the theme on a piece of paper, or draw it on a piece of banner or paint it on the wall! Capture and upload the photo on this group to show support.
Past activities for 16 Days:
- In 1998, WAO worked with The Star to produce a 16- day series on VAW
- In 1999, WAO worked with ERA radio with public announcements on VAW
- In 2000, WAO worked with Sin Chew Jit Poh to highlight International Day against Violence against Women with a 5 day series. WAO also produced its own 16 day series on the WAO website
- In 2001, WAO worked with Levi Strauss and PUTRA LRT to carry out our annual public education campaign. WAO also had Radio interviews and press features stories throughout the 16 days
- In 2002, WAO worked with Putra LRT to reach out to the public through performance art, in the form of music, song, and poetry reading, focusing on the issue of violence against women
- In 2003, WAO worked with Radio 4 to conduct radio talk shows. WAO also conducted several activities in the Klang Valley and was featured in Section2, The Star
- In 2004, WAO in collaboration with Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) and Sisters In Islam (SIS) worked with The Body Shop and Putra LRT to carry out our annual public education campaign. The campaign was taken beyond the Klang Valley to Penang, Johor and Kelantan
- In 2005, WAO in collaboration with Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC), Sisters In Islam (SIS), Women's Centre for Change, Penang (WCC Penang), and Kata Gender launched the campaign at the Berjaya Times Square and campaigned outside the Klang Valley, this time going to Ipoh and Seremban
- In 2006, WAO worked with the Royal Malaysian Police on a domestic violence poster campaign. WAO also distributed the Self Help Booklet for survivors of domestic violence
- In 2007, WAO in collaboration with Malaysian Aids Council (MAC), Sisters In Islam (SIS), and Amnesty International Malaysia (AIM) worked with Wanita FM to highlight this campaign on radio.
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Description of Dates
DATE |
DAY |
DESCRIPTION |
25 November |
International Day Against Violence Against Women |
- November 25 was declared International Day Against Violence Against Women at the first Feminist Encuentro for Latin America and the Caribbean held in Bogota, Colombia, July 18-21, 1981. At that Encuentro women systematically denounced gender violence from domestic battery, to rape and sexual harassment, to state violence including torture and abuses of women political prisoners.
- November 25 was chosen to commemorate the violent assassination of the Mirabat sisters (Patria, Minerva and Maria Teresa) on November 25, 1960 by the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo in the Dominican Republic.
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29 November |
International Women Human Rights Defenders Day |
- Women from all parts of the globe engage in defense of human rights on
a daily basis. Because of their advocacy, they face retribution and are sometimes
punished—by government officials, religious authorities, police, and often by family and
community members.
- Whether they focus on women’s human rights or other rights issues, women defenders are subjected to arbitrary imprisonment, torture, forced disappearances, death threats, violations of privacy, sexual violence, name calling and other threats to their credibility, closures of their organizations and a host of other violations because of their activism and claims to exercise rights.
- Many women defenders have lost their lives because of their advocacy.
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1 December |
World Aids Day |
- This day marks the beginning of an annual campaign designed to encourage public support for and development of programs to prevent the spread of HIV infection and provide education and promote awareness of issues surrounding HIV/AIDS.
- It was first observed in 1988 after a summit of health ministers from around the world called for a spirit of social tolerance and a greater exchange of information on HIV/AIDS.
- World AIDS Day serves to strengthen the global effort to face the challenges of the AIDS pandemic. For more information about World AIDS Day and the current theme, please refer to www.unaids.org
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6 December |
The Montreal Massacre |
- On Wednesday, December 6, 1989 a 25-year-old man, Marc Lepine, walked into the University of Montreal's School of Engineering Building at about five in the afternoon, with a.223 calibre semi-automatic rifle. He began a shooting spree during which he murdered fourteen women and injured thirteen others: nine women and four men. Marc Lepine believed it was because of women students that he was not accepted to the engineering school. Before killing himself, he left an explanatory letter behind which contained a tirade against feminists as well as a list of nineteen prominent women, whom he particularly despised.
- The fourteen women who were murdered in the massacre were: Anne-Marie Edward, Anne-Marie Lemay, Annie St. Arneault, Annie Turcotte, Barbara Daigneault, Barbara Maria Klueznick, Genevieve Bergeron, Helen Colgan, Maud Haviernick, Maryse Laganiere, Maryse Leclair, Michele Richard, Natalie Croteau and Sonia Pelletier.
- These women became symbols, tragic representatives, of the injustice against women. Women's groups across the country organized vigils, marches and memorials. There was an increase in support for educational programs and resources to reduce violence against women. Both federal and provincial governments made commitments to end violence against women.
- In 1991, the Canadian government proclaimed December 6th National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. In 1993, an organization calling itself the Dec. 6 Coalition set up a revolving fund for women leaving violent situations to establish themselves and their children in a safer, more secure environment.
- Also in 1993 a campaign called Zero Tolerance was launched offering men the opportunity to show solidarity with women against violence against women. As a direct result of the massacre, several mothers of the victims began groups to restrict gun laws and promote awareness of the continued violence against women.
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10 December |
International Human Rights Day |
- On December 10 peoples and states the world over celebrate the adoption, in 1948, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. On this landmark date in contemporary history, the nations of the world joined together to try and bury, once and for all, the spectre of genocide raised by the Second World War. This document was one of the first major achievements of the United Nations and provided the basic philosophy for many legally binding international instruments to follow. Resolution 217A (111) by the General Assembly, proclaims the "Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms..."
- Organizations and individuals use Human Rights Day as an opportunity to both commemorate the signing of this historical document and to promote the principles which are enumerated throughout the document. Human Rights Day, according to High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, is "an occasion to demonstrate that the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights were not theoretical or abstract."
- To obtain a copy of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to see a description of activities the United Nations has planned please visit the UN website at http://www.unhchr.ch/udhr/lang/eng.htm
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