When i read the following at African Women’s Blog, i knew i had to steal and reprint it because its one of the greatest web-based projects that i’ve seen. Thanks, sokari! Now read, take action, and spread the word!

Take Back the Tech!
16 days of activism against violence against women - November 25th - December 10th

For each of the 16 days of the Take Back the Tech Campaign, simple actions can be taken by ICT users in activism against VAW. Some actions include raising awareness around this issue by linking to the campaign site, changing e-mail signatures, or playing with instant messaging status notes. The campaign website shares action ideas. Users are free to add their own suggestions to the list. It also provides tips for online safety, providing resources that explore the interconnections between VAW and ICTs and practical guidelines for women to communicate more securely online. Campaigners are translating “Take Back the Tech” into Malay, Czech, Spanish, Portuguese and more languages are submitted every day.

Bloggers are invited to join ka-BLOG! - 16 days of collective blogging from thoughts to images in any language around this theme. For those new to the blogosphere, tutorials and how-to guides are shared to make it simple on starting a new blog and how to tag posts.

Women around the world are creating post cards. Eloquent images and ideas recreating a vision of technology founded on equality and what might be possible in a world where women shape, define, participate, use and share ICTs freely.

Campaign Partners

Dozens of sites and blogs currently carry the campaign banners in support of this initiative. The Center for Digital Storytelling site will feature digital stories from initiatives that have used video as a platform to narrate powerful and transformative experiences by survivors of violence against women.
Innovative G2G has localised the campaign in Brazil and recently launched it on their webspace. G2G plans to take over a telecentre for a day of blogging!

At the end of the 16 days, a ‘Conversations Collage’ will be created with print screen images of these sites, signifying the diversity and openness of people who are taking back the tech.

TAKE ACTION

The APC WNSP believes that women have to be safe everywhere - including online. We all have a role to play in stopping violence against women. Take Back the Tech Campaign aims to help you take action

16 Days Against Violence against women: Whats happened/happening where:

In India, Hundreds of women made private public by testifying about street sexual harassment in the “Blank Noise Project Blogathon”.

In New Mexico, USA, the “Domestic Violence Virtual Trial” helps judges and court staff learn about issues and challenges in VAW cases, and compare rulings with colleagues.

In South Africa, women survivors of violence use digital storytelling to share their experiences and courage.

In Granada, Spain, Women took to the strees making a huge human chain with banners protesting against violence against women

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, November 27 2006 — Increasingly the internet and information and communications technologies (ICTs) have been seized as new tools to defend, inform, and exercise women’s right to live their lives free of violence. The APC Women’s Programme (APC WNSP) calls on all who use ICTs to “Take Back the Tech”, and reclaim this technology for the fight against violence against women. From November 25 to December 10, the Take Back the Tech Campaign encourages users to take action against VAW with any ICT tool at hand - using our cell phones, instant messengers, blogs, websites, digital cameras, email, or podcasts.

cross-posted at Taking Place