Orange Day campaign: Say no to all forms of violence |25 July 2020
Mass campaign in Victoria against all forms of violence
The ‘Orange Day Campaign: Say No to All Forms of Violence’ is a strategy used by the Ministry of Family Affairs to highlight the issue of violence especially against women and girls and to call for a peaceful, violence-free society.
Orange Day is observed every 25th of each month and individuals are encouraged to wear orange outfits or accessories on this particular day to demonstrate solidarity in eliminating all forms of violence. The colour orange symbolises a brighter future, free of violence.
Seychelles 'Orange Day Campaign' emulates that of the United Nations (UN) 2008 campaign 'UNiTE to End Violence against Women'. The overarching objectives of 'UNiTE to End Violence against Women' are to raise public awareness as well as to increase political will and resources in prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls. As a result, the campaign harmonised the work of all UN offices and agencies working to end aggression against women. A highly ambitious campaign that set out five key outcomes for all countries to achieve:
- Adoption and enforcement of national laws to address and punish all forms of violence against women and girls, in line with international human rights standards,
- Adoption and implementation of multi-sectoral national plans of action that emphasise prevention and are adequately resource,
- Establishment of data collection and analysis systems, on the prevalence of various forms of violence against women and girls,
- Establishment of national and/or local campaigns and the engagement of a diverse range of civil society actors in preventing violence and in supporting women and girls who have been abused,
- Systematic efforts to address sexual violence in conflict situations and to protect women and girls from rape as a tactic of war, and the full implementation of related laws and policies.
The national Orange Day campaign was launched in September 2010 under the theme 'Unite for Peace: End Gender-Based Violence'. Key stakeholders such as the civil society, faith-based institutions, the judiciary, education and law enforcement were mobilised to support the campaign. These stakeholders pledged to work together to eliminate gender-based violence (GBV) in all its forms.
Seychelles has demonstrated its commitment to work towards achieving, if not all, then some of the key outcomes. Recently President Danny Faure assented to the new law on domestic violence that ensures GBV is recognised as a serious crime. Though the national gender machinery (Gender secretariat) does not have strong institutional authority, it has been successful in lobbying alongside the civil society for a domestic violence shelter. The shelter is funded by the European Union (EU) but managed and operated by the Citizens Engagement Platform of Seychelles (Ceps). It opened its doors in 2018 providing a safe haven for battered women. Women also receive medical assistance, legal advice and counselling there.
In 2016, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the National Gender Policy. Immediately afterwards, partners and stakeholders were introduced and educated on the merit of the policy. The National Gender Policy has eleven thematic areas and each area has a set of goals and objectives that act as guiding principles for the attainment of gender equality. The National Gender Plan of Action is soon to be finalised.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Family Affairs has been active with its GBV advocacy and awareness campaign. It has revamped the "Orange Day Campaign' and introduced it in all state schools. An Orange Day poem and poster competition for primary and secondary students was launched in 2018. The competition provided young people with the opportunity to express their ideas, feelings and emotions through writing and drawing on GBV. Youth symposiums were also held on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue, targeting specific youth groups. The symposium created a platform for the youth to learn and discuss areas of concern on male engagement and GBV prevention.
Additionally, the Ministry of Family Affairs, in collaboration with the United States Defence Institute of Medical Operations (DIMO), organised a series of training for trainers’ workshops with the aim of assisting agencies to improve their operative procedures when dealing with domestic violence and sexual assault cases. Over 100 participants from the police, health, education, social services, as well as from the civil society have benefited from these sessions.
The Ministry of Family Affairs will be educating the general public on GBV issues through a series of articles from the month of July up to November during which the world celebrates 16 Days of Activism to End All Forms of Violence.
Watch out for our articles to learn more about GBV – a universal issue which impacts all of us.
Contributed by the Ministry of Family Affairs
