Background

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that kicks off on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day. It was started by activists at the inaugural Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991 and continues to be coordinated each year by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership. It is used as an organizing strategy by individuals and organizations around the world to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.

In support of this civil society initiative, the United Nations Secretary-General’s UNiTE by 2030 to End Violence against Women campaign (UNiTE campaign) calls for global actions to increase awareness, galvanize advocacy efforts, and share knowledge and innovations.

The global theme for this year’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, which will run from 25 November to 10 December 2021, is “Orange the world: End violence against women now!” Whereas the national theme for Nepal this year is “घरैबाट शुरु गरौं, महिला हिंसा अन्त्य गरौं”

This year’s global campaign theme “Orange the World: END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN NOW!” will mobilize all UNITE networks, civil society and women’s rights organizations, the UN system, the Action Coalition on Gender-Based Violence, government partners, schools, universities, private sector, sports clubs and associations and individuals to:

• Advocate for inclusive, comprehensive and long-term strategies, programmes and resources to prevent and eliminate VAWG in public and private spaces prioritizing the most marginalized women and girls.
• Amplify the success stories demonstrating that VAWG is preventable by showcasing effective strategies and interventions to inspire all actors to scale up what works.
• Promote the leadership of women and girls in their diversity and their meaningful participation in policy making and decision making from global to local levels.
•  Engage Generation Equality Forum commitment makers in your country or region to collaborate in the implementation of bold new commitments and to inspire further action to deliver progress on the Gender-Based Violence Action Coalition Blueprint.

To mark #16DaysofActivisim, this year UNDP Nepal will organize Second edition of Poetry Recitation among young students from Grade VIII to Grade X.

The Poetry Recitation Topic based on the global theme “Orange the world: End violence against women now!” and the national theme for Nepal “घरैबाट शुरु गरौं, महिला हिंसा अन्त्य गरौं”

(Possible Topics: Poem could be around how to minimize gender-based violence, or a message  to men and women etc.)

The main objective of the competition is conscientize the young students and children who are the future citizens and leaders of this nation and will create opportunities for them to understand the importance of “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Against Women & Girls.” And use their creativity, speak their mind and become advocates to fight against Violence Against Women (VAW).

• To develop oratory skills amongst the students
• Encouraging to explore new ideas and raising awareness regarding “Gender-Based Violence Against Women & Girls.”

The poetry recitation involves inviting interested young students from grade VII to grade X from all seven provinces of Nepal to submit their poems through registration in accordance with the specific objectives of the competition. The participants must submit their online registration form along with their poem title on 3rd  December 2021.
The participants should provide duly filled online registration form. UNDP will organize virtual poetry recitation on 8^th December 2021 tentatively 10:00 hrs.

• Poetry will be based on self-composed content.
• Languages for poetry will be Nepali, English or any language that the candidates are comfortable with.
• Each candidate will be allotted 3 minutes
• Decision criteria will be based on provided the students poetry recitation on the topic given:

1.  Expression
2.  Articulation
3.  Diction
4.  Delivery & Style
5.  Time Management
6.   Innovation

All participants will be felicitated by UNDP Nepal and selected poetry will be posted on UNDP social media handles.

The participating student’s guardian’s should ensure that

1)      The participating students who are minors will need at least 1 parent/legal guardian to sign a permission slip related to the submission of private data.

2)      The students over 18 years must provide consent for themselves on issue of data privacy.

3)      For the code of conducts of debaters, their parents will have to sign as well.

4)      Use of Image / Livestream Consent form for the students and judges.

5)      We will need scanned copies of a form of ID of a parent from each participant who is considered a minor in their respective countries.

The poetry recitation will be held in both Nepali, English or any other languages in Nepal that the participants are comfortable to express. UNDP Nepal will be responsible for the translation from Nepali to English and vice versa.