IN MORE THAN 10 CITIES IN THE BALKAN’S REGION – CAMPAIGN DEDICATED TO 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM AGAINST GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE STARTED WITH A SERIES OF ACTIVITIES

November 27, 2021 News, YMI News

Organized by the local CARE’s partner Perpetuum mobile – Institute for Youth and Community Development from Banja Luka and Network of Youth Centers of Republika Srpska – i.e., MOCART, eight “Conference of Youth Work of Republika Srpska” served as a platform to officially mark the November 25^th – International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Conference gathered over 100 youth workers from Gradiška, Trebinje, Teslić, Laktaši, Srbac, Prnjavor, Banja Luka, Brčko District, Tuzla, Vlasenica, Zvornik and Mrkonić Grad, including representatives of different institutions, international and domestic non-governmental organizations.

More than 50 members of Be a Men Clubs from different cities throughout BiH came to Banjaluka, and through set of various performances/flash mobs, and numerous lectures during conference sent a message of zero tolerance to any kind of violence. In addition, 25^th November was also marked with a symbolic walk in city and by lighting the walls of the Cultural Center “Banski dvor” in orange color.

These are just some of the activities that CARE International Balkans will join through its Young Men Initiative (YMI) program in the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, an annual international campaign that begins on November 25th and runs until December 10th. CARE Balkans, in cooperation with its partners from the region, has launched various campaigns and activities calling for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls and respect for human rights. The campaign will be happening in coordination with more than 10 cities in the region, including Belgrade, Mostar, Zenica, Banja Luka, Bijeljina, Brcko, Sarajevo, Pristina, Tirana, Tuzla, East Sarajevo and online.

For instance, following activities focusing on the prevention and elimination of gender-based violence and the promotion of human rights will be organized:

more than 10 plays, art performances, book promotions, exhibitions and other cultural events;
over 25 workshops, lectures and discussions with prominent guest speakers in schools and local communities;
10 street actions aimed at raising citizens’ awareness of gender equality, gender-based violence and human rights.

The campaign will also include specific activities and awareness-raising messages to mark the following days:

November 25: International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women;
December 1: World HIV / AIDS Day;
December 3: World Day of Persons with Disabilities;
December 10: International Human Rights Day.

Institutionalization of life skills education, prevention of violence, promotion of gender equality and empowerment of young people to create positive changes and promote healthy lifestyles, are just some of the goals that CARE and partners will strive to achieve in the next three years in the region.

The program is supported by Austrian Development Agency Development Agency, through project “Future for You(th): Young people as Leaders of Life Skills Education in the Balkans”; Swiss Development Cooperation through project “Young Men Initiative (YMI): Promoting Healthier Lifestyles and Decrease of Interpersonal Violence among Youth in Bosnia and Herzegovina by Challenging Gender Stereotypes Phase III”; and Oak Foundation and CARE Germany for the project “Young People as Future Leaders for Promotion of Life Skills (YMI III)”.