The Communication Initiative
Development action with informed and engaged societies
The Communication Initiative
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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Network of Men Leaders

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The United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon's campaign "UNiTE to End Violence against Women" launched a Network of Men Leaders to combat violence against women on November 24 2009 at the official observance of the 10th anniversary of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The Network supports the Secretary-General to challenge stereotypes, embrace equality, and inspire men and boys everywhere to speak out against violence.
Communication Strategies

This initiative draws on the conviction that men have a crucial role to play in speaking out against - and together taking action to end - violence against women - as fathers, friends, decision makers, and community and opinion leaders. The idea is that, when boys and young men are exposed to examples of sexist behaviour and taught to equate masculinity with the use of violence and dominance over women, men simply cannot stay silent. Ki-Moon believes that many men are uncomfortable with stereotypical and violent behaviour towards women and would intervene if they believed that other men would support them. "As I launch this Network," Ki-Moon said, "I call on men and boys everywhere to join us. Break the silence. When you witness violence against women and girls, do not sit back. Act. Advocate. Unite to change the practices and attitudes that incite, perpetrate and condone this violence. Violence against women and girls will not be eradicated until all of us - men and boys - refuse to tolerate it."

The launch was followed by a roundtable discussion on involving men and boys in ending violence against women.

The leaders in this expanding Network include current and former politicians, civil society and youth activists, religious and community leaders, cultural figures, and other prominent individuals (click here to read about each of them.) They work in their spheres of influence to undertake specific actions to end violence against women - from raising public awareness, to advocating for adequate laws, to meeting with young men and boys, to holding governments accountable.

Development Issues

Violence against Women, Gender.

Key Points

By 2015, the UNiTE campaign aims to achieve the following 5 goals worldwide: adopt and enforce national laws to address and punish all forms of violence against women and girls; adopt and implement multi-sectoral national action plans; strengthen data collection on the prevalence of violence against women and girls; increase public awareness and social mobilisation; and address sexual violence in conflict.

Sources

Words to Action: Newsletter on Violence against Women, No. 6., January 2010, sent to the Women's UN Report Program & Network (WUNRN) listserv on February 3 2010; "Ban Launches New Network of Men Leaders to Combat Violence against Women", November 24 2009 UN press release; and Network website, accessed February 23 2010.

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