AIESEC in Bangladesh educates the youth through "Shadow Pandemic" campaign

Organised by AIESEC in Bangladesh, in partnership with Plan International, SHOUT and Girls Get Funded, the "Shadow Pandemic" campaign started with educating and starting focused and compact discussions between the participants from December 3-5, 2020.

The moderators over the three days painted a picture of how domestic abuse looks like in Bangladesh, with survivors speaking of their experiences and also with organisations speaking of guidelines to follow once someone is a victim of said abuse. One of the more important myths the campaign tried to dispel is that victim blaming is never the solution, rather a change in attitude and behaviour remains the only way forward. Most spaces remained informative and full of active participation, instilling the belief that once young people come together to avert certain issues; anything is possible.

Over the last two months, the organisers kept educating our mass through our constant educational posts about consent and domestic abuse, gaslighting, victim blaming, media romanticising domestic abuse, how society can come together to combat domestic abuse etc.

The campaign also brought back the initial participants to more concentrated discussion spaces about solutions to the two major issues they had discussed: lack of education and an inability/reluctance to change mentality and in the way we spoke about abuse.

While it was obviously inadequate time to come up with one sustainable implementable solution, participants highlighted the role of young people in more decision making spaces, the need for more proactive solutions and not reactive ones, incorporating small changes in behaviour in moving away from victim blaming, educating people in absolute grassroots levels, holding media accountable and teaching men and women both the concept of 'red flags' and showing them the ways out should they need it.

The campaign was a start, one that the organisers hope will continue to foster future impactful conversations and enable society to be driven to being completely free from the curse of domestic abuse.

Based on the campaign, an impact report was created which can be accessed using this link: Shadow Pandemic Campaign Report

SHOUT was the Youth Engagement Partner of the event.