Social Norms
Social norms action with informed and engaged societies
Social Norms
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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Men’s Traveling Conference

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In an effort to mobilise groups of men to combat gender discrimination, The African Women's Development and Communication Network (FEMNET) enabled more than 100 men from Zambia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, and South Africa to travel across eastern and southern Africa. These men sought to raise awareness and mobilise other men to support gender equality and end gender-based violence (GBV).
Communication Strategies

The Men's Traveling Conference was comprised of faith leaders, policemen, lawyers, sportsmen, artists, students, and persons living with HIV/AIDS aged between 19 and 81. The tour was organised as part of the Sixteen Days of Activism, a worldwide campaign focused on ending violence against women that takes place each year from November 25th to December 10th.


Billed as an advocacy and outreach event, participants traveled from their countries by bus to meet in Lilongwe, Malawi, stopping along the way to speak to thousands of people on issues of GBV and HIV/AIDS. In each town they stopped at, the men used music, dance, drama, and debate in an effort to involve their audiences. Buses were decorated with banners proclaiming "Peace in Africa Begins At Home: Men Fight GBV" and "Men Working to Stop the Spread of HIV/AIDS". Drums and megaphones helped the messages be heard.

Development Issues

HIV/AIDS, Health, Gender, Rights.

Key Points

FEMNET addresses men as partners who are critical to reach out to other men to build awareness, sensitivity, and to change attitudes about male identity and unequal power relationships between men and women. "Gender bias takes two, If we use advocacy to combat it, then both sides, men and women, must be involved. When you stand up for something, and do it publicly, you can change things."

Partners

Men for Gender Equality Now Network, FEMNET, African Women's Development and Communication Network, UNIFEM Trust Fund.

Sources

Currents, UNIFEM's Electronic Newsletter - March 15 2004.