Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Nepal: Nepali footballers have vowed to work together to fight violence against women and children under a programme by social NGO Saathi which is supported by the AFC.
Saathi conducted two-day orientation workshops in Chitwan and Hetauda on May 3-4 and May 4-5 May respectively for players and football officials of 32 districts affiliated with the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA).
Influential people of the districts including the Central Regional Administrator, Chief District Officer, Local Development Officer, Women Development Officer and various other prominent figures were present for the inaugural session in each district. Altogether 90 people participated in the workshop.
Saathi is one of the three pioneer projects funded by the AFC under Programme Support, the football body’s new social responsibility project under Dream Asia which is the AFC’s platform that uses football to bring about positive change in the communities.
During the workshops, the participants were oriented on gender concepts and informed about the situation of gender-based violence in Nepal especially domestic violence to promote social inclusion and gender equality.
The participants were given a thorough orientation and asked to speak out against all forms of violence against women in public events, media briefings, advertisements, banners and billboards.
The participants expressed their happiness at the effort made by ANFA and Saathi to involve footballers in addressing the issues and thought that the campaign was an innovative and new concept that would contribute greatly to the effective implementation of the National Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence.
The footballers have committed to practise the lessons from the workshops and start their campaigns right from their home and are eager to conduct similar workshops, organise rallies and create awareness in their particular districts.
Collective strategies were built during the workshop as follows:
Need specific guidelines and monitoring mechanisms.
Nominate an ANFA district focal person for the campaign in all districts and organise a consultative workshop with them.
Organise similar workshops in all districts also with clubs affiliated with ANFA to reach a wider audience.
Produce flyers and other booklets to be distributed during leagues and tournaments.
Organise a special one day event at the district level including football tournaments featuring popular players and public interaction.
Remarks from role model footballers during the opening and closing ceremony of all ANFA tournaments.
Billboards, TV ads, posters, radio jingles and other IEC materials to be produced, aired, and disseminated widely.