by Nandipha Ngcobo

When MATCH decided to conduct a series of workshops, a number of themes, ranging from women and agriculture or the environment to violence against women, were suggested to our Third World and Canadian partners. The response was overwhelming—the issue would be violence.

Discussions began with about 40 groups working on violence in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and the North West Territories. At the same time, efforts were made to get facilitators from different countries, who were not only versed in the topic but also able to share with participants their own experiences.

By October of last year, the workshops began, guided by a team of facilitators. I am Nandipha Ngcobo, from Ottawa, and I was also part of this team.

Workshops and discussions were held with groups such as Prostitutes and Other Women on Equal Rights of Wmnipeg. Golden Lake Reserve Women's Support Group, Immigrant and Visible Minority Women Against Abuse of Ottawa and McAteer Shelter in Yellowknife. Many discussions were characterized by honest personal accounts by facilitators and participants on violent situations they had experienced. The accounts ranged from domestic violence to military abuse.

Undoubtedly, the revelations touched participants' emotions and in turn, helped cement links between them. Moreover, the experiences narrated were enriching and made most of us, if not all, more aware of the problem. In fact, the replies of some of the work
shop participants reminded us of the universal nature of violence.

Participants gave replies such as: "I learnt that violence affects many women everywhere." "Sexual violence is not just in our heads. It is a reality." During the workshops, some women discovered that they were actually tolerating abuse in their present relationships. The approach of the workshops is worth mentioning. It adopted a role play and popular theatre techniques. We felt strongly that these ap
Virginia Howard proaches were vital in bringing to the surface people's experiences on violence especially for those of whom English was a second language.

One workshop started with a skit in which facilitators depicted several instances of violence. This skit was overwhelmingly successful with the participants because it brought out the emotions, fear and anger, with which people react in violent situations. Another technique used was "the talking stone." This stone would be circulated from participant to participant. One would then comment about the workshop and what one experienced from it or pass it to the next one. The warmth felt in the stone, symbolized the openness of our hearts to each other, and the unity among women in their suffering and their determination to resist violence side be side.
Pauline was the mastermind behind the popular theatre tecnique. Pauline survived an abusive relationship in a 13year marriage. Together with her two teenage boys, she immigrated to Canada from Britain after her divorce. She is an outreach worker for the Popular Theatre Alliance in Manitoba and is skilled in applying the technique on women's issues. Violence against women knows no cultural, racial or geographical borders and it affects the rich and the poor. Unfortunately, violence against women also affects children. My personal experience as a single mother now, after 13 years of marriage, substantiates this.

I have experienced violence at a domestic and state (military) level. One distressing fact I have discovered is that marriage does not end after divorce. The children continue to be used by the parties to hurt each other, a very harrowing experience to them.

Like Mikki, I was born in South Africa and have had first hand experience with a racist regime. Mikki's accounts during the workshops evoked bitter memories about several incidences, such as that of black South African girls who were detained following their participation in the 1976 student uprisings in Soweto. Some of these girls gave birth to "coloured" children: they had been raped by the white policemen.

Yet, immigrating to Canada had added insult to injury. Language problems hamper visible minority women's efforts to integrate into Canadian society and isolates them. This problem is aggravated in cases where women already suffer physical violence. As a member of the Immigrant and Visible Minority Women Committee, I am all too aware of the misery that most minority women face.

Mikki, a community organizer for the Cape Town Rape Crisis Centre, talked of the violent situations that South Africans encounter, regardless of age, sex and colour. Though a white South African, having survived an abusive relationship, Mikki could not help but be sensitive to the suffering of other women. Also, like all who work to end apartheid, Mikki has been subjected to the systemic violence of the South African police that perpetuates the subjugation of blacks to white minority rule.

Sexual abuse and rape by the military in the Philippines was Hilda's agonising experience. She was detained for her political activities. As a member of the Women's Crisis Centre in Manila, Hilda's involvement in issues of violence against women came out of her experiences as a detainee. Only when one listens to her tell her story can one realize the physical and emotional pain she endured and the strength she now displays in dealing with violence.

For Hilda, and probably for most other women who have experienced violence, simply surviving is like being given a second chance in life. Thus, Hilda explains her devotion to the service of other women, particularly in the area of support against abuse. She does a lot of networking with other agencies and individuals dealing with violence and has started documenting rape cases in the Philippines.Coming from the Inuit community, Lena's experiences as a common- law wife for at least 16 years, show further how violence affects women's lives. Although her relationship with her husband had worked out, for both of them it involved a long struggle and great patience. Lena is undoubtedly strong and confident. She is an organizer for the Sutherland House of Battered Women in the North West Territories.

Fifteen workshops were held during the tour. Facilitators also had an opportunity to work with and visit native communities. The social encounters further enriched global links and the sharing of experiences. The personal accounts heard during the workshops were inspiring and revived the fighting spirit in women, against all forms of abuse.

It is thus not accidental that participants expressed their determination to resist and act against violence. Indeed, the workshop evaluation sheets carried statements such as: "I will be much more wary of the system and be more vocal," and, "I will take action with the public." Realizing the power women gain by uniting against violence, one of the participants said: "I shall look for strength in international solidarity."

There definitely are no easy answers or quick solutions to the problem of violence against women. By beginning to talk about violence, as the workshops showed, we have only touched the tip of the iceberg. We have no option but to work further to uproot violence in our global society. And, indeed women throughout the world are organizing more and more to stop it.

Source:

MATCH NEWS Jan.-Mar. 1990, no. 4, vol. 13
Match International Centre 1102-200 Elgin Street Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1L5 Can