Organize an Event

You can work with high-profile individuals and institutions in your community to organize a public event.

IDEAS FOR ORGANIZING A PUBLIC EVENT

Hold a candlelight vigil or silent march, which commemorates the women and girls who have lost their lives to violence.

Host a party to celebrate the work of women's human rights defenders. You can celebrate a local and international defender.

Create a "Violence-Free Space" in the community. Contact stores, libraries, city government buildings, local radio stations, etc. in your area and see if they would be willing to host a "violence-free space." This "space" might include talks by:

– a specialist in women's health to discuss the impact of violence on women's or girl's health

– a local women's shelter employee or volunteer to talk about their work or the programs that the shelter offers

– a youth worker from a community centre to discuss the issues facing young women escaping violence

Organize a teach-in: Spend an evening looking at specific issue. Invite local schools, women's organizations and the general public. Talk about what you can do as a community to help stop violence against women.

Use poetry, drama, song and dance to bring the issue of violence against women to public spaces.

Take over a public space by putting up a clothesline on which to hang creative depictions of the issues.

– Invite passers-by to create their own piece that could be added to the line.

– People can trace their hand and write in it what they will do to stop violence against women and girls

Approach art and theatre students and ask them to help set up displays or design dramas that could be used on campuses or in schools.

Talk to your local theatre to see if there are any upcoming plays that deal with the issue of violence against women. See if you can have an information table at the play, or host a discussion following the performance.

Use street theatre to convey your message at public events. Music and art festivals are great places for this type of action.

Coffee Anyone? Organize a café or (fair trade!) coffee house featuring art and music that celebrate women. Be sure to have plenty of action materials available - you may wish to combine this with a letter-writing event!

Public screening of video/film series: Organize a public viewing of films relating to the issue of violence against women. If it's summer, organize outdoor screenings in parks or projected onto the sides of buildings

At any event, you can include booths and information tables, which display:: Information materials on local organizations and resources; Appeal cases, and petitions; Artwork and crafts by women in your community.

Amnesty International campus and community groups planning events should notify the AIUSA Campaigns Department.
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