Madagascar: Foot soldiers of the 16 Days Campaign – Organising a UNiTE White March in Antananarivo

The thought of organising the Unite White March held in Antananarivo in 29th of November 2011 proved to be a big challenge to me.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) office in Antananarivo invited me to come to their offices to discuss the launch of the Secretary General UNiTE against gender violence campaign and the Decade of African Women celebration. I proposed to organise a ‘White March’ and to hold cyber dialogues.

One week later, the UNFPA in Madagascar called me discuss idea further. I received the green light to hold the march, but they indicated that they wanted to mobilise 3,500 people. I must say that when I proposed the idea of a White March, all I had in mind was holding a ‘symbolical march’ that would bring together about 500 people.

The mobilisation of a large number of people is not an easy task. I was anxious and stressed. “What should I do to achieve this?” I asked myself. I had to convince officials and institutions to support me. I went to the Mayor’s office twice to explain to him my idea and to get his buy-in.

Two days before the event, I could not afford to sleep; we had to see the Mahamasina Gymnasium and to take care of all the logistics including how we would decorate the venue.

On the day of the march, I arrived at Mahamasina at half past seven in the morning. I amsurprised to see that the area near the gymnasium is ‘White crowded’! Yet the march is only due to start at 8.30.

I can see the results of the ‘direct announcement ‘made on television and radio.It paid off since several people including associations of elder people, gender activists, NGO associations, the Ministry of Population with the newly appointed Minister, the United Nations family, international institutions representatives and many members from the local councils who are part of the Gender Links Centre of Excellence programmetook part in the march. I am so happy! About 4,000 people attended.

I must give credit to my team, the UNiTE team and to everyone who participated. As we say it in Malagasy ‘ Izay mitambatra vato, izay misaraka fasika’ (United we stand, divided we fall!)

2015, Yes we can (achieve gender equality)!