In South Africa, violence against women has reached epidemic proportions, one of the highest rates in the world of countries collecting such data.
The African Union Protocol on Women’s Rights provides an ideal framework for promoting civil society, good governance and women’s rights; it is also a tool for advocating for the domestication of the agreed upon commitments. Yet, the Protocol is still widely unknown.
The radio drama, Zaphamban’ Izindlela! was produced to promote the popularisation, domestication, and implementation of the African Union Protocol on Women’s Rights. It is part of the People Opposing Women Abuse (POWA) Raising Her Voice Campaign in South Africa. Produced by Community Media for Development (CMFD) and supported by Oxfam GB, the drama was distributed to community radio stations, organisations, and places of safety in South Africa.
This case study shares the process, techniques, and lessons learned from Zaphamban’ izindlela! both as way to document, as well as facilitate others working on women’s issues to undertake similar initiatives. It demonstrates how entertaining forms of media, and engaging with community media in particular can create awareness and dialogue.