The Dharavi slum in Mumbai, India is one of the largest in the world and is home to between 300,000 and 1 million people. Violence against women, such as domestic violence, honour killings, and rape, is common. In 2014, SNEHA, an Indian NGO, began using an Android app to identify and report gender-based violence in Dharavi.
Women in Palestine face serious challenges to gender equality, and many fear rape, domestic violence, economic uncertainty, and discrimination. The Ma’an Network, an independent, non-profit media organization, is aiming to address these issues by airing television programs that teach the general public, raise awareness about violence against women, and create behaviour change.
In Swaziland, the International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women (November 25th) was the kick off to the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence campaign in which SWAGAA and many other NGOs participated. Unfortunately, this annual event has been going on for years because the problem has not been solved.
Acclaimed producer, director and humanitarian Firdaus Kharas uses light-hearted, accessible and multi-lingual cartoon animations as health promotion tools, particularly in the Middle East. His work cover issues including HIV/AIDs prevention, contraception, malaria prevention, domestic violence and energy conservation. Similar innovators utilize media platforms for health promotion, including Mohammed Harib and Malik Nejer. With cross-cultural appeal and accessible messages, cartoons are becoming a valuable method of teaching critical lessons.