V-Day Annual Report 2017 - RISE FOR WOMEN WORKERS 1 | Page 59

OBR AS A
POLITICAL
TOOL...
> Increases awareness and understanding of
all forms of violence against women and girls
– going deeper into the comprehensiveness
of VAW, not limited to the physical, but to
the equally serious social, economic, racial,
gender, and environmental justice /urgency,
and media. And to the political systems that
cause these.
> Helps sustain interest, visibility, urgency and
media attention for local campaigns and
issues – because of OBR’s evolving escalating
themes and international solidarity focus.
> Fuse educational and political advocacy,
raising of public awareness and media
exposure.
> Creates space for conversation, engagement
and interest on VAW issues.
> Gives very public and visible recognition
and acknowledgement that women are
empowered and have a right to their agency,
the right to resist, and the right to rise. This
has helped change the mindsets of men, of
governments, and of religious, cultural, media
and educational institutions towards women.
> Pushes and puts pressure on leaders and
local governments to address VAW issues,
because it fosters a sense of “people power”
– with voices of the community women at the
forefront.
> Helps local campaigns become a vital rights-
based resource platform where women
learn about their rights, both nationally and
internationally.