The Communication Initiative
Development action with informed and engaged societies
The Communication Initiative
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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Women Facing War Video Series - Global

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In honour of International Women's Day 2004, The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has released a series of short films depicting the impact of war on women's lives worldwide. Each week, beginning the week of March 8 2004, new videos are available for viewing on the Internet.
Communication Strategies

This initiative uses short films that feature the voices of women impacted by war discussing their experiences in very personal ways. Each film - just over 3 minutes in length - includes images of the particular woman who is telling her story.

These films were previously broadcast on international television. They were filmed in Afghanistan; Bosnia-Herzegovina; Colombia; Federal Republic of Yugoslavia; Israel, the Occupied Territories and the Autonomous Territories; and Sierra Leone. They are available in several languages (English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Italian) for CHF 30.

Click here to visit the ICRC website, where video clips are published in Real (streaming) and WindowsMedia (download) formats. Here are some snapshots of the films:

  • Nasrin, a widow and mother, describes her experience with losing a limb in a land mine accident
  • Zakiya explains what it is like to try to support herself and her 7 children in the absence of her detained husband
  • Mah-Bibi, age 10, is an orphan who begs for food to support herself and her younger brothers (ages 5 and 7)
  • Efrat and her family anxiously await news of her missing brother, a soldier captured in the hostilities. (since the production of this video portrait, the body of the missing soldier has been returned to the family)
  • Olja describes her feelings upon learning finally of her missing husband's death
  • Dzidza reflects on the search for her husband and sons, still missing long after the war is over
  • Qualam, forced to leave her home by drought and conflict, describes what it is like to be displaced
  • Amanda, detained for her role in armed conflict, talks about her daily life
  • Sarah, a survivor of sexual violence, describes what happened
  • Shihnaz explainis how she lives with the daily fear of threats to her personal safety
  • Mariatu copes with disability - the result of a physical attack on her during war.

Development Issues
Conflict, Women.

Partners

ICRC, Urban Films.

Sources

ICRC site.