Protest against xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals_ News of the south_ May 2015

Name of the story: Protest against xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals

Name of the media house: News of the south

Country: Zimbabwe

Brief description of the item of work you submitted and motivation of why it is a good example of gender awareness and sensitivity in advancing gender equality Post-2015.

My photo shows a courageous young Zimbabwean woman approaching the much-feared Zimbabwe riot police to protest against xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals by some South African citizens.

Image depicts how fear can be overcome through determination to express the need for human rights. Such an action is usually expected from young male activists, but in this instance, it shows the courage of a determined young woman to express her sentiments and feelings. In addition, the xenophobic attacks had worse consequences on the region and affected women who were traumatised.

A young woman activist in Zimbabwe courageously confronts the much feared riot police.

A Zimbabwean woman advances towards riot police with a placard denouncing xenophobic attacks obtaining in South Africa at a peaceful Anti-Xenophobia protest organised by Civil Society Organisations of Zimbabwe at the South African Embassy in Harare, Zimbabwe.

An activist demonstration to denounce xenophobic attacks against foreigners perpetrated by some South African citizens. Demonstration happened at South African embassy in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Background

Why did you produce the story? What problem or context is it responding to?

I produced the story to express inward human feelings that knows no gender boundary. In this case, a young courageous woman expresses her feelings approaching riot police.

Key objectives

What did you hope to achieve with this coverage?

To motivate other affected people to express their inner feelings to have their rights fulfilled irrespective of gender boundaries.

Target audience (

Whom did you hope to reach? Did you succeed in reaching this audience? What evidence do you have to that effect?

SADC citizens’ have had my photo widely distributed and it reflects inner emotions of a courageous young woman.

How did you go about researching the subject and taking the photos?

How did you gather the data, how many sources, female and male did you consult? Why did you choose these sources and how were their voices important?

I went to the xenophobic demonstration and had an idea of expressing inner feelings of a courageous young woman who meant to express her feelings against inhuman xenophobic attacks affecting the SADC region.

Feedback

What impact did it have? What evidence do you have to illustrate impact?

Please provide any examples of feedback that you received from the articles (from websites, letters, etc.)

I have been receiving comments on the emotions expressed in the image from other colleagues and people in general. That the image expresses inner feelings of a young woman.

Follow up

How would you conduct a follow up to your story and why?

I would take a gender lenses and see how women engage in such similar demonstrations. Some succumb to fear and some are fearless. It would be good again to look at female courage in such situations.