The World Association of Community Broadcasters – Women's International Network (AMARC-WIN) is set to organise an internet-based global broadcast campaign beginning 25 November to mark 16 days of activism against gender violence.

With the theme, “Media and Violence Against Women,” the campaign aims to further denounce gender-based violence in creative ways using community radio. It seeks to demonstrate the capabilities of media as an instrument in combating violence against women and the realities of violence committed against women media practitioners.

“This is a golden opportunity for all of us working in the community radio sector to participate in the campaign and make a difference in the lives of fellow women by trying to change the existing social, cultural and political perceptions prevailing in many parts of the Asia Pacific region that ignores and/or encourages plights of women, especially those related to violence against women,” Prativa Chhetri of AMARC-Asia Pacific explained.

During the campaign, AMARC-WIN members will be broadcasting programmes which will feature mostly women's resource persons such as women activists and women media practioners; women's stories of survival; women's initiatives in communities; and other gender issues.

“By participating in this campaign we will tell the world that we care for fellow women who are suffering, that women are not voice-less and that women in the community radio sector are united to fight against the brutality,” Chhetri added.

In the lead up to 10 December 2008 or the International Human Rights Day, the campaign intends to discuss other related issues such as women human rights defenders and acute immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

The programmes for “Media and Violence against Women” campaign will be broadcast at http://www.amarc.org/16jours