National and local level advocacy against GBV was an important project component. At the very beginning of the project an IEC/BCC workshop was held to develop a strategy to direct the communications and advocacy related activities of the project.
In both countries a key first step was to develop 'branding' of messages. Thus in Nepal, the tag line of 'a caring family is a happy family' was adopted focussing on the roles of husbands and in-laws in preventing GBV, while in Bangladesh the strap line 'stop - if you hurt mother, you hurt me too' helped to target perpetrators' latent feelings for the unborn child.
At the local level IEC/BCC tools developed as part of the overall project strategy were used with different audiences and stakeholders to increase awareness. In Bangladesh, major advocacy activities included using folk songs, advocacy seminars with religious leaders, mass media campaigns. In Nepal 25,000 people were mobilised through candle light programmes, celebration of Women's Day, street dramas, rallies, workshops and round table discussions. FPAN street theatre titled ''Who is the culprit? Dosh ko?' had 43 performances in three project areas.
In both countries work with local and national media has been extremely important in the advocacy on GBV. In Nepal, a Journalists Forum against GBV (J-VAW) was formed to disseminate information about GBV through electronic and print media. Similarly, FPAB was able to secure strong media support and coverage by holding press launches with the local press club before street theatre performances.
A total of 8000 copies of HUQ, the biennial project newsletter have also been printed out and distributed to national, regional and global audiences. It has also been translated into Nepali by FPAN.
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Do local advocacy initiatives work?
A small study conducted by FPAB among men and women at the community level identified street theatre as a particularly effective medium for creating awarenss about the causes and consequences of GBV, especially during pregnancy. After watching the street theatre, 82% of the study respondents could recall the messages abd 88% could state that violence during pregnancy is injurious for both mother and child. Further, according to 97% of the respondents, street theatre can play an important role in reducing violence during pregnancy.
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"Holistc approach and innovative interventions in BCC/advocacy activities of the GBV project made a difference in increasing awareness of the community and linking people to service outlets".
Md. Gias Uddin, Project Manager, GBV Project, FPAB
"The advocacy programmes envisaged by the GBV project contributed to increase partnership and collaboration with other like-minded agencies for effective implementation of project interventions."
Hari Khanal, Chief Executive Officer, FPAN