WK 322 Using cultural resources to build awareness and inspire action

Some issues can be very difficult to discuss or even bring to the consciousness of the public – such as domestic violence, racism and even the general topic of human rights. Cultural resources like theater (to address domestic violence), concerts and soccer matches (to raise awareness of racism) and cinema (to start discussions about human rights) have been used to overcome stigmas, build awareness and inspire action.

Panelists

Featured Tactic: Oulimata Gaye, Réseau Africain pour le Dévelopement Integré (RADI), Senegal Complementary Presentations

• Rafal Pankowski, Nigdy Wiecej (Never Again), Poland
• Magdi El Na’im, Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS), Egypt
• (Unfortunately, Magdi El Na’im was not able to attend the symposium due to a last minute change in his schedule.)

Featured Tactic

Using theatre to break the silence around family violence Oulimata Gaye Réseau Africain pour le Dévelopement Integré (RADI), Senegal

• View Oulimata Gaye’s PowerPoint presentation 172 KB (French)
• Read the outline of her presentation (French)

The Africa Network for Integrated Development (Réseau Africain pour le Dévelopement Integré or RADI) employs female paralegals and well-known actors to open new avenues of action against abuse by using participatory educational theater. RADI took advantage of existing support groups for women, called mbottayes, by engaging popular entertainers to perform sketches about violence against women and other human rights abuses. The actors convey human rights messages in a comfortable, nonthreatening setting. The actors interact with the audience in a series of role-playing exercises highlighting the dynamics of family violence. After the sketch is performed, the paralegal engages the audience in a discussion about legal recourses and human rights awareness. The audience debates these topics and gives feedback on the sketch. The paralegal then presents the group with information on reformed laws and how women can use these changes effectively. Women and men who have attended these performances go back into their communities and share information about their legal rights, promoting the sketches by word of mouth. This tactic reaches women in rural areas and informs them of changes in civil law and how to access help. As a result, the number of women confronting violence is increasing and some women have even taken their cases before the Senegalese Supreme Court.

Complementary Presentation

Rafal Pankowski, Nigdy Wiecej (Never Again), Poland

• Read the tactical notebook Breaking the Silence

Never Again uses rock concerts and soccer matches to build an anti-racist youth network in Poland. Using CDs featuring well-known rock bands, concerts, an anti-racist soccer magazine and amateur soccer tournaments, the campaign educates young people about the problem of racism in Poland and calls on them to become agents of social change. Never Again has a network of 150 voluntary correspondents who report monthly on racist activity in their communities.

Complementary Presentation

Magdi El Na’im, Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, Egypt The Cairo Institute of Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) is using film, art and literature to demonstrate that human rights have long been celebrated in Arab cultures and to build a base of widespread support for a human rights movement. CIHRS illustrates the roots of human rights in Arab Islamic societies in their folklore, literature and film. CIHRS has built a network of artists with an interest in promoting human rights.