#NotOkay's Gender-based Violence Campaign
In commemoration of the UN's International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
Main Topics
1. What is mental abuse in a relationship?
2. Identifying signs of an abuser.
3. Message to women who are in abusive relationships.
4. Message to women who have been abused (physically, sexually, mentally) who may be struggling with depression, etc.
Participating Members
1. Vanessa (sexual abuse survivor)
- How her abuse affects her so we can engender more sympathy towards abused women in our country
- Message to other women who have been abused
2. Pauline Cooper (domestic abuse survivor)
- How we've "normalized" domestic abuse in our society
- How her father abusing her mother affected her as a child
3. Nikki Crosby
- Messages to other women who have been abused to strengthen them
- Standing up and saying that violence in relationships is not okay
4. Nisha B
- Message to women in abusive situations
- Raising awareness that mental abuse is also a type of abuse
5. Hazel Brown, Network of NGOs for the Advancement of Women
- Some of the root causes of domestic abuse and message to abusive men in T&T
6. Penal / Debe Foundation
7. Bianca Ramlochansingh
- Message to all young girls and women in T&T to let them know that they deserve the moon and the stars to help boost their self-esteem
8. Ria Ramnarine
Goals:
For women who have suffered or are currently suffering from abuse to feel less alone, to feel more inspired to get out of their abusive relationships, and to feel more capable of being on their own. Too often, in Trinidad and Tobago, the narrative that these women hear while in their abusive relationships is that it's somehow "okay", or this is how men treat women, or that it was a one-time thing, or that she somehow instigated the abuse, or that they should stay and work through it, etc. All of these things normalize the abuse, and encourage them to stay. We need to stand up as a country and say, no, abusing women is #notokay.
For us to strengthen and comfort other women in T&T who are dealing with the effects of abuse. Many women who are struggling with overcoming abuse get flashbacks, triggers, suicidal thoughts, and many other effects of that abuse. But we don't talk about it in our country. It's not seen as okay for us to talk about these things. I want it to be. We have so many women who have faced these things and overcome them, or fight through them, that we can encourage and give that strength to our fellow women of T&T, to keep going, to know that they're not alone, to know that other women went through and survived this, and they can, too.
For us to, even marginally, prevent new abusive relationships, by helping women to recognize signs of an abuser, to recognize that mental abuse is a form of abuse, as well, and by simply coming out and talking about the fact that "abuse is not okay" so that at the first sign of any abuse, they know that it's time to end this.
Time frame:
November - January 2018 (pausing briefly during Christmastime for a short mental health campaign).
Platforms of delivery:
1. Facebook
2. Instagram
3. Youtube
4. Website
Why social media?
Because that is where we can reach the most people for the most impact. Trinidad and Tobago, based on the most recent research, has over 500,000 social media users. Content can go viral on social media, and videos have been the most viral form of content consumed by users on social media. These videos have been produced specifically to be consumed by social media. With social media, our messages can reach far in society.
Videos: (more to be added)
