“Turn off violence against women” campaign has national impact
Bosnia and Herzegovina ran a “turn off” violence against women campaign as part of its 16 Days of Activism. Through a symbolic “turn off” button, the campaign reached high schools, sports clubs and even bars across the country.Date:
Bosnia and Herzegovina kicked off its 16 Days of Activism on 24 November with the campaign slogan “Turn off violence against women.” The campaign message focused on a “turn off” button that symbolized the simplicity of turning off violence if everyone is involved.
An orange counter for people to pledge to end violence against women was placed in five towns and collected more than 13,000 promises.
"I believe that this year's campaign has sent an important message and that is that we are all equally responsible, as individuals and as a society, to see, recognize, and react to violence, and to work on its prevention, with the help of the relevant institutions," said Amna Muharemovic, UN Women Bosnia and Herzegovina Representative OIC.
Male public figures, including comedians, actors and sportsmen joined the campaign by sharing a video on the subject. Journalists wore a specially designed orange badge.
“Responsible media reporting on violence, without sensationalism and sexism, in which the focus of the story is not on the person that suffers violence, but the behaviour of the perpetrator, can help in creating a society that does not tolerate violence,” said Ognjen Blagojević, journalist and TV anchor from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The campaign reached 70 high schools across the country where students received educational materials about positive social attitudes.
"It is extremely important that young people learn more about the ways of prevention during their high school years. The target group of the campaign is men because, among other things, this is a way of preventing violence, it is key to changing the traditional understanding of masculinity, "said Ilija Trninić, an activist and director of the NGO Perpetuum Mobile.
In addition, the Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina supported the campaign with matches on 3-4 December in which they wore T-shirts with the orange “turn off” symbol and held a banner with the message: “Turn off violence against women!” Gyms and locker rooms also displayed the message.
More than 50 bars joined the campaign with signs on their front doors: “We have turned off violence.”
UN Women and the State Agency for Gender Equality held an interactive public press conference on 10 December in the main square of the country’s capital, Sarajevo. It was followed by a flash mob of junior basketball players who formed a giant “turn off” sign.
Individuals can continue to pledge to turn off violence by clicking on an orange banner on the UN Women microsite www.iskljucimonasilje.ba.