Take Back the Tech! 16 Days of Reclaiming Technology to End Violence against Women
Kuala Lumpur, Nov 25
In Uganda, a SMS campaign called Speak out! Stand Out! is organised by WOUGNET to collect messages against violence against women
In Quebec, feminists and communication rights activists are creating short video clips and comic postcards to protest violence against women
In Malaysia, Burmese refugees are making online audio defending women’s rights together with Centre for Independent Journalism
From 25 November to 10 December,get ready to pull out the mouse, flex your SMS fingers and engage full energy in activism to end violence against women (VAW). APC Women’s Programme (APC WNSP) calls on users of the radio, television, internet, emails, mobile phones and all kinds of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to “Take Back The Tech!”
What is the campaign about?
Take Back The Tech is a collaborative campaign by ICT users, advocates,collectives and organisations that take issue with the prevalence of VAW in our diverse realities. Initiated by APC WNSP in 2006, the campaign is part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence initiative.
It is our right to shape, define, participate, use & share knowledge,information & technology, and to create digital spaces that protects everyone’s right to interact freely without harassment or threat to safety. Take Back The Tech aims for this by calling all user of ICTs – especially grrls & women – to take control of technology and consciously use it to disrupt unequal power relations.
How can you Take Back The Tech?
- 16 DAILY ACTIONS
Simple daily actions throughout the 16 days that uses ICTs strategically to counter VAW. From sending SMS to making digital postcards to snapping pictures to playing with radio to remembering forgotten names in the history of ICT development, you can take action with tools and platforms that you have access to.
- ka-BLOG!
Explore and thicken the knowledge around ICTs & VAW by joining the 16 days blogathon. New to blogging? This is the perfect reason to start your own, or at least, click that ‘comment’ button to have your say. Daily topics will be posted on the campaign site to stir conversation,as well as instructions on how to set up a blog.
- LOCAL INITIATIVES
Start your own Take Back The Tech campaign. As seen above, independent and creative initiatives to Take Back The Tech are taking off in different parts of the world, translating content and action to address local needs and priorities. Use the campaign website to highlight your action, or find useful information and resources. From tech tools & tips, articles & links, portable applications, images & graphics, to your own page on the site, email us to let us know how we can support your action.
- DIGITAL STORIES, AUDIOCASTS & MORE
Learn by listening to the experience and stories of women and men affected by VAW. The campaign website will feature digital stories, audiocasts, video clips and postcards. If you have something you would like to share, just log on to the campaign site and submit your story.
- SUGGEST AN ACTION
Help shape the campaign by sharing your experience & ideas. Submit your thoughts at the campaign website, and make it part of the campaign.
And more. Check the www.takebackthetech.net daily from 25 November to 10 December, and take action. Reclaim technology to end violence against women.
For more information: send an email to jac@apcwomen.org, or ideas@takebackthetech.net
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“Take Back the Tech” is an initiative of the APC Women’s Networking Support Programme (APC WNSP), a global network of women who support women networking for social change and women’s empowerment, through the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) especially internet, founded in 1993. The APC WNSP is part of the Association for Progressive Communications (APC).
http://www.apcwomen.org
http://www.apc.org
Source: Take Back The Tech
