Gender Links is commissioning submissions that will be used as part of activities for 16 Days of Activism 2009. Commissioned pieces may be used in a booklet to be launched on Human Rights Day entitled “World Cup 2010: Problems and Possibilities" and/ or distributed to mainstream media and through the Gender Links Opinion and Commentary Service.

We are looking for:

· Commentary/ Opinion – 800 - 1000 word commentary pieces reflecting on gender issues, based on the themes below.
· “I” Stories – 800 – 1000 word first person accounts of how gender and gender violence has impacted on men and women in Southern Africa, as well as first person accounts of how people are getting ready for 2010 – economically, politically, and socially.

Themes will include:
· Media: Is media part of the problem or part of the solution?
· Taking stock: How much progress countries have made in the last year in ending gender violnce?
· Localising the 365 Days of Action - the role local government can play in ending GBV.
· Human trafficking - initiatives and legislative measures dealing with human trafficking across the SADC region, linked with soccer 2010.
· Sex work - current debates around sex work across the SADC region, linking with soccer 2010.
· Sexual harassment - attitudes towards sexual harassment throughout the SADC region
· Social networking, IT and GBV: How social networking tools such as the internet, Face Book, Twitter and Mix It can be potential threats to women’s safety.
· Culture and tradition: How cultural and traditional practices contribute to or may be used to address gender violence, examining in particular the increase in child brides and the legal age for marriage of girls across the SADC region.
· Religion: The critical role religious institutions have to play in dealing with gender violence through their teachings and by providing services and support to GBV survivors.
· Gender and Soccer 2010: The possibilities and the problems that Soccer 2010 presents for women across the SADC region with a particular focus on the economic opportunity it could provide and the issues of trafficking and sex work across the region, examining the current debates around these issues in the context of 2010.
· Economic Justice – are women and men accessing opportunities, especially related 2010.
· Disability – gender violence and disability
· Migration and xenophobia – exploring economic and political migration, as well related disempowerment and/ or violence.
· LGBTI – the links between gender based violence and sexual orientation.

We are looking for “I” Stories from a wide variety of contributors, including women, men, and, youth, writing their own personal stories. This may include but is not limited to:

· Survivors of human trafficking
· Sex workers – on topics such as violence, harassment, and legalisation.
· Economic migrants – problem and positive outcomes
· Women in sport – players, coaches, journalists
· Success stories of women in businesses, challenges and achievements
· Activists getting ready for 2010
· Survivors of gender-based violence – domestic violence, sexual assault, harassment.
· Experiences with violence from social networks such as the internet.
· The LGBTI community’s experience with GBV.

Please send your ideas to editor Deborah Walter at [email][email protected] by Wednesday, 4 November. The editor will discuss payment, deadlines, and possible angles with you.