Man Up is an innovative, international campaign which uses sports and music as mediums for collaborating with young men and women and organizations to build a strong movement to stop violence against women (VAW). Initiated in September 2009 at the Clinton Global Initiative, the campaign has partnership with Vital voices Global Partnership and it is funded by NoVo Foundation, V-Day and Ms. Foundation and is fiscally sponsored by the Alliance for Peace Building.
With sport as a critical vehicle to raise awareness, the campaign is hosting the three-day Young Leaders Summit on the occasion of the World Cup 2010 to be held in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010. The summit aims to achieve “the goals of supporting organizations tackling VAW, building a network of young advocates and defenders, and linking the efforts of community based and mainstream organizations, and the corporate, entertainment and sports communities.”
A diverse group of 200 young men and women from 18-30 years from “32 World Cup competiting nations and 19 at-risk countries, who are committed to eradicating VAW within their communities” will be participating in the Summit. “Summit participants will be given the tools they need-and want-to plan and execute proposed initiatives, including seed grants with the support of a worldwide network of NGO partners. A multi-functional website will facilitate communication, on-going training and global advocacy.”
It is also an opportunity for participants to transform their ideas into real projects and there will also be skill development and relevant tools will be offered. There will also be human rights leaders and practitioners from different parts of the world to provide training to the young men and women on building the movement against VAW.
There is also further opportunity for these delegates to gather again during the World Cup 2014 to be held in Brazil where progress and new ideas will be shared.
To become a delegate to the summit, an online application form has to be filled and submitted through the campaign’s website. The deadline to apply for participation is 22 January 2010. For more information, visit this link.
