Accueil - Women Break The Silence Madagascar

Since its creation in 2011, the AEIF or Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund has already funded 4 innovative projects of Malagasy alumni. As a reminder, the AEIF is a global competition organized by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State. Having participated in the program, it was natural for Marie Christina KOLO to compete with the support of 4 friends and fellow Alumni.

In 2020, the Women Break The Silence Project initiated by the team won the competition. They thus became the 5th Malagasy team to receive funding. Officially launched in January 2021, the project has now become a Movement which is an initiative of young people sensitive to the issue of gender-based violence in Madagascar. The adoption of the law n°2019-009 relating to the fight against gender-based violence in December 2019 sent a strong signal concerning the hardening of the law against the facts of violence in any kind. However, it must be noted that regardless of the legislation, social practices tend to prevail over the collective consciousness than the texts of laws.

Our mission

The Women BreaK The Silence initiative was born out of a desire to directly involve survivors of violence in raising awareness and combating rape culture in Madagascar.The US Embassy in Madagascar helped us organize a small launch event on December 4, 2020 with a series of qualified alumni from various US programs (YVLP, Humphrey, YALI, Fullbright) working on gender-based violence.

Thanks to this first meeting, we obtained a lot of new ideas at the beginning of our initiative but also new perspectives and new advice to enrich the project. We add to our objectives the fight against sexual harassment at all levels (not only in schools and universities) and the inclusion of women with disabilities. We also changed the original organizational structure when we realized that it was more efficient to let each branch of the association be autonomous and create its own activities.

Within a few months, nitiative became a major national movement on the issue. It has helped to shed light on violence and discrimination in the victim support system, as well as the lack of support. The Movement now spans several territories and collaborates with public authorities as well as the private sector. Indeed, in response to demand and opportunities, Women Break The Silence has even been able to expand through several partnerships and new events not initially planned.

We were also fortunate to collaborate with associations and artists who gave us discounted prizes as partners and we were able to add many more actions. However, the initiative encountered many challenges that we had not foreseen, including political pressure and institutional violence that we had to manage.

Our Aims

Women Break the Silence aims to help and support victims to move from being victims to being survivors while reinforcing its main mission of fighting against rape culture by raising awareness through artistic, educational and cultural channels.

The first campaign to prevent violence, sexual harassment and discrimination in public transport in the city of Antananarivo

·       In December 2021, public opinion rebelled on Malagasy social networks against the viral testimony of a young woman assaulted by an assistant bus driver on a busy bus line in the capital. But this buzz was good because it made it possible not only to find and punish the aggressor but also to highlight a problem still unknown in the capital: harassment and violence within public transport.
·       The city of Antananarivo (CUA), decided to seize the problem to integrate it in its new "safe city" initiative aimed at a better security for all and especially for women and girls. This Strategy is also part of the implementation of local gender policy, of which it is one of the first applications.
·       For this campaign, the city is partnering with the "Women Break The Silence" movement to mobilize the community around the fight against this violence, which also includes discrimination related to disability.

Engage with National Coalition on GBV

·       In 2019, Madagascar adopted Law No 2019 -008 on Combating Gender-Based Violence
·       The COVID-19 pandemic has not allowed for a sufficient popularization of its content, while during lockdowns, violence is even more prevalent in homes.
·       This law, still recent, does not yet have an implementing decree, but above all, it is not yet sufficiently known at all levels, even if it brings many advances. For example, it recognizes for the first time the concept of marital rape as well as several forms of sexual harassment.
For a more effective complaint system and better enforcement, we have chosen to train local authorities.

Making a plea on the therapeutic termination of pregnancy

·      The movement is part of the collective that supports the proposal of the law on therapeutic termination of pregnancy (ITG).
·       In Madagascar, the ITG is prohibited by law when it is a medical act to save the lives of women who risk dying because of their pregnancy. doctors who save women’s lives are also condemned while they save lives.
·       An object of the law was introduced in parliament to allow exceprions when the life of the woman is in danger thanks to the leadership of the feminist movement Nifin'Akanga and the deputy Masy Goulamaly. This law also implies that women victims of rape and incest should be able to abort because of the psychological consequences they may have.
·       Unfortunately, the bill disappeared from the normal democratic process under pressure from the churches. It was an undemocratic act and an abuse of power.
·       We got a lot of pressure and criticism from politicians, so with other feminist movements, psychologists, medics, lawyers, we started a national collective.

Complete other engagements with Yali Fellows

.       Using sport as therapy for rape victims
In February 2022, we launched our football club with 7 girls under the age of 16. The movement has partnered with YFOMAC (founded by a Yali alumnus), an association that propels football for young girls, to launch a therapeutic sports program that will be tested throughout the year 2022.
.       Breaking the silence on GBV through peacebuilding
Launched by a Yali RLC and a Mandela Washington Fellow 202 in February 2021, Breaking the silence for GBV through peacebuilding is an initiative that mobilizes young people against GBV through several trainings with a view to consolidating peace. Women Break The Silence supports the initiative until today through scaffolding, training and discussions.
.       Support for Rape Survivors
Through our partnership with Alternative Madagascar (founded and led by a 2017 Mandela Washington Fellow), we are beginning to work on specific training tools to help and support sex workers who have been raped. Our team mentioned the members of Alternative Madagascar to listen and the VBG since they help former sex workers in their social reintegration in different regions of Madagascar.
.       Fight against sexual corruption
As a continuation of our work with the NGO Transparency International and the NGO Tolotsoa, we plan to draft a bill imposing measures against sexual harassment and the fight against sexual corruption in the public administration and the private sector. We plan to introduce this bill once the therapeutic abortion bill is passed. We still have to find many allies to make this plea.

We also plan to create shelters for victims of gender-based violence. This first trial is mainly aimed at several large cities in the country, notably Antananarivo, the capital, Tamatave and Nosy Be, as well as Diego Suarez, the epicenter cities of the sexual rape phenomenon in Madagascar.

Our Actions

Our Partners

Some of our partners were there from the beginning, others have joined us in the fight; we are proud to work with all of them. In addition, other partners will be joining us soon...