Congo/ Gender-based violence: a school competition to prepare girls for verbal retaliation

On October 28, at a press conference in Brazzaville, the "Oxygène" association launched a national school competition called "Dis non avec tes mots" (Say no with your words), to give young girls the language skills they need to verbally combat their aggressors.

The "Dis non par tes mots" school competition is part of the second edition of the "Agir c'est prévenir, prêt à te défendre" campaign, which runs from November 25 to December 10.It is aimed at girls in primary and secondary schools nationwide, and focuses on gender-based violence, whether physical, verbal, sexual or psychological.

Candidates must register online via a Facebook account already set up for the cause, through which they will send their texts to the organizing committee. The texts to be sent, written in a variety of styles including poetry, slam and free text, will focus on violence against women, whether suffered or experienced.

A jury committee already in place, headed by Constant Ferréol Gassackys, will select the best entries....

" The competition will take place nationwide, and is open to any child in primary or secondary school who feels able to produce a text on violence against women . produce a text on violence against women, and send it to the organizing committee to be examined by the jury", explains Ms. Zara, president of the Oxygène association.

The competition program also includes three workshops led by experts. The first will focus on defensive self-defense to teach these young girls the values of martial arts. The aim is to enable them to understand violence, prevent it and defend themselves when necessary.

The second is entitled "Voice and Power". During this meeting, the specialists will teach the girls how to react verbally to an aggression or attempted aggression. To do so, they will give them the language they need to fight off their tormentors.

The last workshop will be dedicated to leaders of administrations, institutions and associations involved in the management and repression of violence against women. These will include journalists, psychologists, doctors, lawyers and law enforcement officers, among others, to reflect on the new mechanisms.

Source: www.adiac-congo.com/