Effective advocacy What are the steps to creating strategic campaigns?

Effective advocacy and mobilisation: What is your change agenda and how do you achieve it?Vivienne Weefor the Feminist Leadership Workshop,Programme on Womens Empowerment and Leadership Development (WELDD), organised by Women Living Under Muslim Laws (WLUML), Cairo, 13-20 Jan 20131Form 2-person partnerships2 persons from different countriesReview partnerships at end of 16 Jan.2What do these terms mean?AdvocacyMobilisationChange agendaExercise 1Draw your understanding of the terms.Explain your drawings to each other.One person per partnership will show and explain the drawings to the group.3Key wordsAdvocacy: taking a stand, picking on issue, speaking out + other commsMobilisation: people, grassroots (family, work, school), gathering people around your stand.Change agenda: public policy, legislation, tribal laws, practices, etc. POWER: reshape power structure4Where do you think advocacy and mobilisation are located in the big blue circle or the small red circle?What do the two circles mean to you?5Do you agree?Advocacy = how a minority influences a majorityMobilisation = how a minority becomes a majorityIf you agree, can you provide examples?If you disagree, give reasons.6Advocacy and mobilisation = how you bring about changeBut what do you want to change? Why?Thats your change agenda. Exercise 2Identify one issue that makes you angry (e.g. policy, law, practice or situation).Explain why you are angry about this.Are you doing anything about this issue? If so, what are the results of your action? If you have not done anything, why not?What lessons have you learnt?7Lessons (1)Sexual harassment: campaign, recruited sexual harasserAngry about the Turkish Govt trying to reinforce trade agreement with Senegal by funding most conservative Muslim ed institutions, while pretending to be secular to enter EU. Writing paper for press.Angry about some people in Egypt, who were in the revolution and who have not changed their behaviour, e.g. electionsAngry about womens status in Saudi Arabia, esp education (opportunity for access) high schools. Which rights? Consent in marriage? Dress code and right of mobility? Not yet learning about advocacy.

8Lessons (2)Angry about women not elected, not even nominated in Syria. They dont know rights. Amira ran for local council and won. Female minority. Vice-Pres. Pushing women to participate in politics run for elections.Sexual harassment in Egypt in public sphere. Attacks and insults unsafe. Affects them economically. Campaign: movement to tackle this: (1) go to police for cooperation, (2) talk to people on the streets. Aim: women are safe on the streets. Lesson: women speak out in public make issue visible, debunk notion that women like this.Angry for children from marriages of N + S Sudanese, who cannot go to school in the North. Change happens: 5 children can now go to school.9Lessons (3)Angry about Article 36 in Egyptian Constitution: limits women to domestic field, dependent. Demonstration in front of Parliament: article to protect womens autonomy. Article 36 dropped; but new article adopted with same content. Sexual violence bars women from the streets. Women become aggressive in self-defence. Documentation. Egypt, Jordan, Arab World. Making the problem visible improves the situation. Need to understand root causes. Attack of womens human rights defenders.Angry about arbitrary arrests of WHRD in Iraq, e.g. journalists. Security involved in war and politics of fear. Participated in campaign about woman arrested in Iraq freed. Laws dont protect women. Conventions not implemented, CEDAW.10Do you agree?Its easier to say what you dont want than to say what you want.Why?Because what you dont want is in front of you but what you want does not exist yet.If you only know what you dont want without knowing what you want = politics of protest / critique / rejection with no change agenda.Result: crisis of change without direction!11Sites of changeHuairou Manual p. 1812Change is a journey but you must know where you are going.Destination required for air ticket, train ticket, bus ticket, even if open-dated (i.e. time stretched).Exercise 3Return to the issue that makes you angry in Exercise 2.Do you have in mind an alternative that would make you happier?Describe your alternative, if any.Explain how you arrived at this alternative: e.g. your own thought process, reading books & papers, suggestions by others, dialogue and debate, etc.?If you have never thought of any alternative, explain why not. Answer the 3 questions above.

13ClarificationsWhat is systemic change? Change root causes that produce and reproduce certain patterns quality of change.Change is a journey: it takes time: many phases.Strategic opportunities and momentsContinuum of sexual violence.Religious interpretations as a source of moralities context-specific understanding of womens human rights.Managing contradictions: what we agree and disagree on building multi-tier platformsWinning allies and the diversity of allies: building a constituency quantity of demand for change.Customising our message. 14How do we envision change from what (baseline) to what (goal)? Why do you think your goal is better than the current situation?What is better?Better for whom? Intended beneficiaries.Not better for whom? Potential opponents.15Adding up your potential beneficiaries & potential opponentsYouPotential beneficiariesPotential opponents16Are the potential beneficiaries all on your side?Yes:No:Maybe some:Why?Why not?17How can we win over potential beneficiaries who are not on our side?Exercise 4Have you ever tried to win over someone (anyone) to support the change you envision?What were the results? What worked? What did not work?If you have never tried to do this, why not?18Lessons of how to win over othersStart with the other persons point of view and support with research, evidence, statistics.Refer to the other persons experiencesSpeak the other persons language.Pick the right moment.Just do it! Ignore objections. Let them get used to it. Be prepared to pay the price.Use your own experience to empower other women.Results speak for themselves economic empowerment, income, concrete benefits. Success stories.

19Rank the relative effectiveness of different ways of winning supportLogic of your argument? 1,Endorsement by someone well-known person (allies)? 1Coverage by mainstream media (allies)? 1Repetition of your message? 1Rejecting the message of your opponents?Showing the long-term benefit of your proposed change to society as a whole? 1Offering some short-term benefits (allies)? 1Expressing understanding of the difficulties faced by people (allies)? 1Aligning your message to peoples needs (allies)? 1 x 2Other methods? Support from officials (allies); innovative ways of communication, e.g. human chain

20ConstituencyCore group: 100%Partners: other organisations, communities, individualsAllies: limited support on some occasions; they dont do things with you.

21Change does not happen in a vacuum!Change has to happen among people.People are not just isolated individuals.People are in relationships: e.g. families, kin groups, communities, religious congregations, friendships, working relations, etc.Which part of your message aligns with the interests of people in their relational contexts? E.g. family health and well-being, education of the young, social stability, good governance, equitable economic development, etc. Show linkages between these desired social aims and womens human rights.22Instrumental argument: womens rights as means to some other endRights-based argument: womens rights are an end in itself.Negotiate differences: part of democracy.Diversity: different but equal.23What you want (at least a part) must become what they want.Identify a group of people you would like to win over as partners and allies: Grassroots women: econ needs, right to mobility (work, shops), repro rights, health care, social insurance, safety for families , education, housing, want their voices heardHouse maids / domestic workers: contracts, health insurance, union, work safety, protection from violence, econ needs (min. salary), certified experience, limited working hoursYouths, students: representation, voices heard, jobs, training, subsidies, protection from exploitationTrade unions: min wages, social security, freedom of assembly & associationPolitical parties: power, votes, donations, volunteers, members, international popularity, protection from ruling partyCivil society: money, volunteers, legal protection, independence of government, networking, recognition, credibilityDo you know what their needs and priorities are? How do you know? Did you find out from them? Or are you just guessing? (Research: membership, interviews, training, joint advocacy, documentation)Is there a part of your message that can align with their needs and priorities? (Messaging: work with relevant NGOs rural areas, training of trainers, market grassroot womens products, IDPs) Are you working with any of these groups? Results? What worked? What did not work?24CapacityOverwhelmedBalance between capacity and priorityBe specific about who you want as partnersHave strong tool of evaluation: know what your real capacity is: e.g. members of NGO, expertise (e.g. negotiation skills)Networking and volunteerism: managementStart small, build on your success.Planning skillsCommunication skillsManagement skillsOrganisational development: planSupport and capacity buildingIndividuals in NGOs + NGOs: succession & sustainability25Is this compromise?Not if you know what your GOAL is.The entry point for dialogue and potential agreement is not the goal.GoalEntry pointsPoints of departure26How to agree and disagreeExample: Indonesian feminists in dialogue with womens wing (Aisiyah) of religious group (Muhammadiyah)Agree about stopping domestic violenceDisagree about Anti-Pornography Law27Which is more effective?Approach 1Approach 2You formulate the message of change by yourself or with a group of friends.You formulate the message of change in relation to the needs and priorities of people you want to win over as partners and allies.You disseminate this message to the general public through the mass media (including social networks),You customise different parts of your message for dialogues with potential partners and allies.You wait for the public (including policy makers, decision makers) to respond to your message of change, e.g. blogs, letters, attendance at your forums, etc.You engage with potential partners and allies to develop collaborative messages that include part of your message and part s of their messages.You repeat your message to get more public response.You help to form advocacy teams with partners and allies to promote the collaborative messages.28Becoming more effective in advocacy and mobilisationExercise 6Have you ever tried either Approach 1 or Approach 2?What were the results? What worked? What did not work?If you have never tried either, why not?29Do you agree?Mobilisation should go hand in hand with advocacy. Why?Mobilisation = building a constituency and a movementAdvocacy: more effective when it represents the interests of a constituencySome starting point to guide participation -- interactive30After gaining an entry point, how do you deepen collaboration?What are the assumptions of your partners and allies?Examples?To what extent are you able to address some assumptions that do not support your goal?Are there some people who can be encouraged more than others?

31What about your potential opponents?Who are they?Are there divisions among them?What are their agendas and interests?How do they benefit from the status quo?Do they have other change agendas?Your change agenda is not the only one!How can you overcome your opponents?32Lessons (opponents)Understand and use the power structure.Make visible the contradictions: have an opponent of the opponent: 33Do you think that democracy has failed you?Is democracy given or taken?Are womens rights given or taken?Is your change agenda able to compete with other change agendas?Does it matter whether you have a small or large constituency?Does it matter who your allies are?Does it matter how you strategise?34Film: Global Campaign to Stop Killing and Stoning WomenLaunched on 25 November 1997Aim: end violence against women that is excused or justified in the name of culture, tradition or religion.Coordinated by Women Living Under Muslim Laws (WLUML)35The learning process36What have you learnt?What is the most important thing you learnt yesterday?What will you do with what you have learnt?PracticeNajat (Voices of Libyan Women): discussion saloon (4-5 hours) step by step sharing through Q&A; after that each will go to a school for more sharing, especially religious lessons in the evening. Iranian activists: before meeting, agree to organise 4-6 meetings, pre-departure condition for participation: translation of materials, contact details of orgs, potential replication. Formal process -- also WLUML. Formal staff meetings, briefings, notes, action items, recommendations to the Board clear meeting outcomes.37Hekmas suggestion: transnational network to do international advocacy.WLUML38Is it useful to you to continue learning about advocacy and mobilisation?If so, how can you continue your learning process in an effective way?Moving from theoretical to practical stepsReflexivity: reflecting on what you are doing, conscious of your consciousness.Process documentation: evaluation what worked, what didnt work and why39Your suggestions:YourselfFind resources (Web), attend workshops, read books share with orgPlanning for trainings: discuss with BoardCompile materials from related workshops [key words] Diaries, blogs self-documentation of your inner of being40Sharing:Email, twitter, FB41Parking lotRights42Call to action: information neededExactly what happened when, where: detailsWhat we know for sure: how many people died, any one claiming responsibility?Check with people who experienced the attack: what do they want us to do? Not always practical? Lets look at contexts (1) massacres, actions of war can be condemned straight away. (2) But if individuals are arrested, then consult with their families.If they want our help, to whom should we address the letter, e.g. President, Prime Minister, embassies, UN Human Rights Commission (depending on topic), UN Security CouncilDraft the letter in very polite language, diplomaticWhat do we want them to do? E.g. holding the Government responsible. Send the letter to sister organisations to ask them to write many letters are more effective.Alternative: or one letter signed by many organisations in 1 country less effective.Fax, email, hard copy (presented to embassy)Pass to the media

43What is WELDD?This is the WELDD- WLUML Leadership Workshop. Do you know what WELDD is?

44Womens empowerment and leadership development for democratisation (WELDD)Multi-country programme (2012-15): Shirkat Gah Women's Resource Centre (SG), PakistanInstitute for Women's Empowerment (IWE), Asian regional NGOWomen Living Under Muslim Laws (WLUML), international solidarity networkObjective: strengthen and sustain women's feminist and transformative leadership in public life & political participation. Principles: Women leaders must be able to mobilise others (male and female) to take collective actions to build gender-equitable futures leadership as the capacity to mobilise others. Womens leadership must be sustainable, with younger women able to continue the struggle.

45You and WLUML46How do you see Women Living Under Muslim Laws (WLUML)?What was your knowledge / view of WLUML before this workshop?Did this workshop change this?What is your current knowledge / view of WLUML?Use of religion as a resource for womens rightsDifferentiation between what is really religious and what is customary / traditionalEmpowering women and youth, challenging Islamic governments using Islam to oppress womenHad misconception of WLUML as working within religious framework more of transnational feminismLooking at womens rights from multiple perspectives, including other religions

47Can the WLUML network be useful to you?If so, how? What can you get from the WLUML network? Something that unites us a sense of wholeness.Pressure tool: updates on research, mechanisms international supportInternational network important to support local campaigns (e.g. Kurdish campaign in Iraq): exchange of support across borders all can contributeNon-governmental, non-Western, South-SouthWLUML support for stoning campaigns in Sudan very successful (women freed, won cases, letter to President)Knowing that theres always someone who cares about you: safe haven48What would you contribute to the WLUML network that could benefit others?Useful for WLUML: regional focal persons in every countryHow to be a volunteer for WLUML?Exchange of support across borders all can contribute.Exchange of ideas, knowledge.WLUML doesnt exist apart from its network members.WLUML: not a Muslim org, but all women affected by Muslim laws.Ability to criticise our contexts, e.g. use of religion to oppress women.Space to share projects on WELDD-WLUML site, stories of womens success against all odds

49Four thematic groupsSexual violence: continuum (harassment rape / murder all) power over womens lives and bodies (no autonomy)Who is violent: state, men, women?Women as the people who are subject to violence.Political participation: formal / informal, political analysis, resistance (pol action), advocate for / against, state structure what are you advocating to? Movement building.Economic empowerment: help the poor vs. root causes of poverty, absolute vs relative poverty, capitalism in the world / global capitalism, where is your national economy in this global system, relations of exploitation and gender hierachyResearch: methods, field research, participatory research, community researchQuestions:What are the top 3 priorities in this area of work?What information is needed?What support is needed?What will members of this group contribute individual and/or organisation?

50Research (Sarah, Nadzirah, Nasreen, Alyaa, Amina)A. 3 priorities2 ways: Field: nothing in mind, get views, come up with list of needs and prioritiesHave a certain topic in mind, e.g. Egyptian men marrying foreign womenWhich approach to be chosenWhat resources? How many researchers? Time span? Target groups? Sample size? Budget?Research strategy: process of documentationB. Who are we working with? How does the research impact on them? What do they want? We are doing this research for change.C. Support: during and after research. Community leaders. Then opinion leaders with access to decision makers. Volunteers spread word, recruit, and help with research. Volunteer management and project management needed. Collaborators for research partnerships. Local council support. MPs -- help us to help them. Support of officials distribute questionnaires; approval.D. Go back to organisation and modify research approach, including documentation process. Share a template for research.

51QuestionsFatou -- research for change: not all the time. Some opinion leaders are conservative. Do we empower women to be told by these opinion leaders?Is the research the same as the action plan?52Political participation (Zeynab, Nada Omran, Doha, Najat, Amira from Syria)Formal and informalFormal: direct participation (Parliament, pol parties, local councils)Criteria: woman leader (educated, pol informed training needed)Women have expectations of woman leaders to benefit them. Being in Parliament is an achievement. Should fight corruption not always seen as a womens issue.Women have to avoid being judged on outfit. How and when to address people. To abide by the rules.Quota: cannot wait for men to fight for this, need NGOs, campaigns, alliances (elite)Instrumentalise strategically give and getIn Parliament: change laws (e.g. divorce, nationality, polygamy, personal status code)Informal pol participation: NGO, mediaPol analysis: vision, objectivity, wisdom, ability to dig down, engagement.Watchdog: any form of corruptionInternational Day of Information: right to access know this.Exchange info Tunisia to support IraqLack of resources, fear, lack of knowledge about rights: impedimentsAdvocacy: right crowd (mobilisation), same criteria as for leadership, skills. Raise campaign for womens pol participation.Islamic laws: get mad at mens interpretations, instead of re-interpretation, e.g. women leaders.53QuestionsContext: When Islam is the basis of laws, you enter into the religious discourse. In secular state, the aim is to get family law out of the Islamic courts.Dont censor yourself.Liberals lose their constituencies.Exchange of supportResearch group can support, can build up resources can ask questions.54Sexual violence (Nihal, Hekma, Amira Sudan, Sally Haq, Houzan)Mind mapDivided sexual violence: any act that has a sexual natureWomen and menPersonal vendettaComplexity: state, individual, family, etc.How to address: Knowledge, information, statisticsCampaign, media (e.g. state TV), graffitiEducation (schools)Punishment, rehabilitationStrict lawsAdvocacy, mobilising peopleBe critical of your government, religionHow to fight religious legitimation of sexual harassment: religious protection framework55QuestionsPut in school curriculum. Yes: Ministry of Education but Salafi is a problem in Egypt. But Libya managed to push the envelope.The main cause is not about getting funder accepted.Perpetrator is also a victim of the system: transfer to another NGO.Human reproduction: not always taught.Sexual violence: any interference in your private space art. Not just change of laws. Social stigmatisation, e.g. shaving of head. Be bolder in exposing problem.

56Presentations by participations about their organisations57Iraqi Female Journalists Forum (Nada Omran)Commemoration of female journalist killed upcoming in anniversary.Goals: Shedding light on work of female journalistsDocument violations experienced by female journalists (org, field work)Rights of female journalists in armed conflictWorking with other NGOs on changing discriminatory lawsWorking on media to change stereotypes140 female journalistsSupported by some menViolations include those committed by police, other officials sexual harassmentThe org also focuses on trafficking of women and children prostitution and sale of human organsTV show produced for satellite channel on womens issuesAdvocated against lawCapacity building through workshops.

58QuestionsMaie: Trafficking: differentiation between human org trade, prostitution and ?Nada: Iraqi Govt is hiding human trafficking. Org is trying to expose this. Greatest no. of cases is happening with the connivance and complicity of high official of Ministry of the Interior. Org is working with other organisations due to number of disabled, etc. People sent to the Gulf.Houzan: previously Iraqi organisations ignored this. Its important for the female journalists to document this. Juvenile prison: teenaged women trafficked, returned and imprisoned for decades after return punishment of victims. Q: relations with other womens orgs?Nada: Good connections with e-Amal org and with Houzans org.59Voice of Libyan Women (Najat Dau)Established by woman doctor started by smuggling medicine to save people in Gaddafis time. Daughter of Najat.No. 1 Libyan NGO3 goals: politically, economically, fight against VAWAchievement: workshops on 3 goals. During election period, 40 women participated. 8 now in Congress.Also: campaign against VAW. Flyers to shops at first rejected, then distributed by women in hijab, accepted. Outreach to schools. Even the PM and other men wore the purple scarf, etc.Survey in schools to ascertain frequency of VAW.

60QuestionsDoha: why choice of name Purple Hijab?Najat: because of killing of woman in a specific incident.Houzan: how many NGOs?Najat: 300, mostly Western funded. Voice of Libyan Women funded by Western countries and liberal Libyan businesses. Iraqi Govt now wants NGOs to get Western funding.Houzan: How do people view it?Najat: Half of Libya want to have the country open to the world. The other half is conservative.61Aid Centre for Legal Consultation, Sudan (Hekma)Legal aid for low-income people, who face legal and administrative problems, including those in prison and those facing trial (bail and fees; field visits in Khartoum)Promote legal awareness of rights in communities, including human rights Promote value of citizenship Advocacy to Government to comply with international standards and national lawsAim to provide justice to all and the rule of law.Provide emotional support to service agencies and people facing trauma so they dont feel isolated and suicidal.Many cases since 2011, including stoning case of 23- yr-old woman supported by WLUML & other international orgs.62QuestionsNaiera: funds?Hekma: Dutch and other embassies no problem.Houzan, Sarah: N-S divide impact on womens solidarity?Hekma: We have no contact with orgs in the South but there is contact with S Sudanese people in prisons. Four Freedoms agreement that guarantees some rights of S Sudanese in North.Maie: Islamic vs secular / Christian countries? Arabs have no idea of Sudan. Solidarity with Arab and African feminists?Hekma: Our org is small. 2 years only. Many orgs (e.g. Selma) have international work. More networking. Maybe Maie can be focal link in Egypt.Doaa: Linkage between Sudan and Egypt. Urgent Action Fund case with one Sudanese woman refugee in Egypt. Targetting of activists (male, female) by security forces. Lack of knowledge of Sudan and other African countries. Urgent need for support of individual activists. Women are leading the democracy movement in Sudan. Big funders ignore Sudan.Fatou: Networking in Africa who and who? WLUML funded some initiatives. Bakshir International Criminal Court. The money cant get into Sudan.63Roya (Vision), Sudan (Amira Ismail Said Elnour)Very new organisationCore value: womens rights are inseparable elements of human rights and democracy.Younger voice door for participation for new generation of activists and researchers.Monitoring HR and youth empowerment projects funded by Dutch.Sudan is more than just Khartoum very bad situation outside e.g. mountains.Aim is to work outside Khartoum, but impossible to do so now because forbidden by Govt.Now working with Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Khartoum.64QuestionsNaiera: IDPs only? Other target groups? To do what?Amira: Others youth empowerment.Maie: Is it dangerous to work with sexual minorities?Amira: Yes, we are afraid therefore moving slowly and carefully. Need to know the people org is working with there are spies. No documentation of workshops.Hekma: Normal in Sudan fear of the security forces, including threats to those opposing FGM. Work in small areas, keep information confidential.Dina: Future training one session dedicated to security issues: how to keep safe. Share experiences.65Women for Life & Syrian Women Peace Forum (Nesreen Hassan)Org 1Last 2 years: Syria in conflictAdvocacy for womens rule at different levels of governance (city, local, etc.)Women have paid high price for the conflict.Women are the only clean ones among the arms users but those who suffered most.Basis of Women for Life: ICE (calm things down)1st project: children of peace resettled 100 children back to schools.2nd project: support displaced women: economi empowerment (job training)3rd project: phoenix rehabilitation after war and building civil stateOrg 2: started by 5 women 2 mths ago, supported by Karama and HIVOS.Empowering women in peace-building, public affairs.Fostering peace cultureEstablish lobby on peace issues.Workshop inside and outside SyriaIssued many statementsWorking Paper for presentation in Geneva asking them to start real steps to apply Geneva Declaration for transition of powerMany civil soc groups have joined this Forum, including those in the opposition.Exchange of support across different countries.

66QuestionsNaiera: Funding? Partnerships in Egypt?Nesreen: 2 projects (Women for Life): internally funded. Children for Peace: Syrian businesses. 2nd project: Syrian woman living abroad + Syrian Development. Forum: only from HIVOs + members internal funding with host organisation. Syrian sovereignty is very crucial suspicions about foreign funding.Nada (Egypt): How to handle the 2 camps?Nesreen: Women from both camps are engaged less violent. Could be unified on basis of disarmament, better economic conditions. Build on basis of womens needs.Homa: Workshops on UN 1325?Nesreen: Yes, inside Syria.Homa: No woman present in peace-building process in Turkey? Statement by Forum?Nesreen: Women have no place in the opposition so trying to get in forthcoming peace process.Homa: No statement by Syrian women for WLUML and others to give international support.Nesreen: Final day of conference: Forum gave statement but media ignored it.Dina: Statement did not condemn absence of women.Doaa: We dont know enough about what is happening in Syria. We need clearer statements (voice from Syria) to give international support. Source of information needed for international support.Nesreen: Some statistics can be given how many killed. Dina: No women in opposition coalition. Needs to be stated.Hekma: Sovereignty: contradiction in conflict situation? Govt issues, not NGO issue.Nesreen: Syrian citizens in NGO. Does not want to be involved in geo-politics. Strings attached.Homa: No clean money. Get money and do something clean with it.67