16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign

From the Press Release we’ve received:

What is the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign?
The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence is an international campaign originating from the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute sponsored by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership in 1991. Participants chose the dates, November 25, International Day Against Violence Against Women and December 10, International Human Rights Day, in order to symbolically link violence against women and human rights and to emphasize that such violence is a violation of human rights. This 16-day period also highlights other significant dates including November 29, International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, December 1, World AIDS Day, and December 6, which marks the Anniversary of the Montreal Massacre.

The 16 Days Campaign has been used as an organizing strategy by individuals and groups around the world to call for the elimination of all forms of violence against women by:

• raising awareness about gender-based violence as a human rights issue at the local, national, regional and international levels
• strengthening local work around violence against women
• establishing a clear link between local and international work to end violence against women
• providing a forum in which organizers can develop and share new and effective strategies
• demonstrating the solidarity of women around the world organizing against violence against women
• creating tools to pressure governments to implement promises made to eliminate violence against women

A coalition of social justice groups within Second Life will be marking the 16 days campaign here in SL by organising a series of discussions, presentations & exhibits highlighting violence against women internationally.

Topics will include: women fighting for peace in Israel & Palestine; the white ribbon campaign and men’s role in challenging male violence; anti slavery and trafficking in women; commercial sexual exploitation & the links between different forms of violence against women; rape and sexual violence as a human rights issue; the situation for women in Iran; femicides in Mexico; Amnesty International campaign on ending violence against women; and taking back the tech – representations of vaw in SL.

16 DAYS CAMPAIGN MASTER SCHEDULE
Please check the ning site for updates. http://slactivists.ning.com/

Artist Exhibition featuring some of the premiere women artists of SL offering these pieces for the 16 Days between November 25th and December 10th to view for contemplation, reflection, inspiration and empowerment.
Four Bridges Main Event Area

Wednesday November 25th
Four Bridges Mainstage
10AM SLT – Welcome address from Ledoof Constantineau Intro. to events from Siri Vita
10:15 AM SLT – Reading of selected poetry by Gwen Carillon
10:30 – 11:00 AM SLT – LIVE MUSIC – Jean Munro
11:00 AM SLT – Intro to Language of Pornography Exhibit by UndoneChaos Enoch

11:10 – Noon – Tour of Language of Pornography exhibit with Undone available at installation for questions.
Please note – a message from Undone:
This exhibit contains sexually explicit hate language.   If you are easily offended please do not enter the exhibit.  Additionally, if you are a victim of sexual trauma of ANY sort, my wish is not to cause more harm.
Some individuals entering may become upset, sick, or angry.  You may even end up angry at me, and I am OK with that.
The point is to take language commonly used in pornography or hate words and place these words in a different context.  This is done for one specific reason, to illustrate how words and phrases can be damaging.  Moreover, it is to illustrate how this language misrepresents women through a form of socially acceptable structural violence.
Most of those individuals who enter this exhibit would NOT ever use a slur against a repressed sub group of of any sort, but how many individuals condone the use of hard-core porn.  We label it “freedom of expression,”  then run in fear we might be infringing on someones rights by demanding respect.  It is somehow acceptable to do this in hard core pornography because it is viewed as “victimless;” however, if we take a minute to think about it, the victim is every female on the planet. When we allow hard core pornography into our grocery stores, gas stations, or our home, we are doing just that.  We are allowing violence towards women and incubating disrespect.
This exhibit is not a statement against nudity, sexuality, or what happens behind closed doors. This exhibit is also NOT about censorship.   It is a statement against open and profound hatred towards women in language and action.  It is about both men and women taking responsibility for language which hurts, stifles, and disintegrates the female image.
Upon entering the exhibit, please walk all the way to the end, reading the words as you go.  Then, turn around and walk back.  When you are brave enough to turn back and walk through is when you find a bit of peace.
Social Justice Blog
http://socialjustice451.blogspot.com/

Noon to 1PM SLT – Discussion Group on The Language of Pornography faciliated by Undone Chaos Enoch at the Four Bridges Drum Circle

1PM to 2PM SLT -LIVE MUSIC: Truelie Telling
Four Bridges Mainstage

2PM to 3PM SLT – LIVE MUSIC – OPEN MIC AT THE PEACE PARK!
Afghan SL Peace at the Peace Park

3PM to 4PM SLT – any1 Gynoid Exhibit and discussion Elimination of Violence Against Women in Afghanistan􀀒
Afghan Peace Exhibit – Peace Park

4PM to 5PM SLT – The Gracie Kendal Project –
A conversation about the Avatar and Identity with Gracie Kendal http://graciekendal.wordpress.com/

5PM to 6PM SLT Opening of Ana Herzogs Exhibit on The Impact of War on Women
Casita Gaia Village – The Women’s Center

6PM – 7PM SLT – Please check website for updates
http://slactivists.ning.com/

Thursday November 26th – THANKSGIVING IN THE US
NOON LIVE MUSIC Atheene Dononpa at the Imagine Nest

Friday November 27th
1PM – 2PM SLT
Alexjo Magic Discussion on Impact of Israeli Occupation on Palestinian Women
Four Bridges North – Actions Against the Israeli Apartheid Wall Exhibit

Saturday November 28th
10AM – Noon SLT Panel Discussion on Domestic Violence
Panelists: Paty Amiot, Alexjo Magic, UndoneChaos Enoch, Ledoof Constineau, millay Freschi
Location: Four Bridges Auditorium

Noon to 1PM – The Poetry of Medora Chevalier, Paulette Felisimo and Serene Bechir
Four Bridges Imagine Nest

1PM to 3PM SLT Panel Discussion on the Status of Women in Different Cultures Throughout the World
Panelists: Alexjo Magic (Israel/Palestine), millay Freschi (US), Nany Kayo (Native American), Paty Amiot (Hispanic Cultures), Alanagh Recreat (Africa), Ledoof Constantineau (UK)

3PM to 4PM – LIVE MUSIC – Cylindrain Rutabaga

4PM – 5PM – LIVE MUSIC – Ayila Onmura

5PM – 6PM – LIVE MUSIC – Idella Quandry

6PM – 7PM LIVE MUSIC – Shannon Oherlihy

Sunday November 29th
Noon SLT – Nany Kayo Presentation on Violence Against Native American Women
Virtual Native Lands – lm TBD

Monday November 30th
12:30PM SLT Amber from Equality now via Skype presentation
Forced Prostitution and Human Trafficking – Info also provided on vaw games in Japan

Tuesday December 1st
HOLD for Presentation on how AIDS is affecting women – WORLD AIDS DAY

Wednesday December 2nd
1PM SLT -Stop Porn Culture slideshow – Zoe Parness and Scylla Rhiandra – Four Bridges Auditorium

Thursday December 3rd
Noon SLT
Ana Herzog Presentation on The Impact of War on Women – Discussion
Casita Gaia Village – The Women’s Center

Friday December 4th
Four Bridges Waterfall
11AM SLT – Buffy Beale presents on Bridges – A group helping women at risk

Noon SLT – Meditation Workshop with Feminist Expedition

Saturday December 5th
8:30 AM FigBash Snook – Presentation

10AM SLT – 11AM SLT – Paty Amiot presents on Femincide in Mexico
Four Bridges Drum Circle

Sunday December 6th
1PM SLT – SLLU Feminist Network Meet and Greet
SLLU Feminist Network HQ

2PM SLT – millay Freschi on The Unique Power of the Feminine
Four Bridges Imagine Nest

Monday December 7th
1PM SLT
josina Burgess: Exhibit of sculpture and photography Liberation of the Feminine Species. – Artist introduction followed immediately by
cathARTic – Open discussion on the power of art with SL women artists.

Tuesday December 8th
1PM to 1:30 SLT
Jenelle Levenque Presentation on Violence Against the Transgender community

Wednesday December 9th
millay Freschi on Women Activists at Risk
NOON SLT – Four Bridges Amnesty International Headquarters

Thursday December 10th
Into the Light Show at Imagine Nest Noon SLT

Celebration of the 61th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at An Li
~ Live Music below the *HIDDEN PEARL COVE*
~ Exploring the interactive Installation *CHAMBER of our HEART*
build by Paulette Felisimo & Gamma Infinity
Details and time shedules will be announced

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT LEDOOF CONSTANTINEAU OR SIRI VITA