Mzamo Sidelo and Leo Mbobi from the Red Card Campaign discuss their strategy. Photo: Nondumiso Ntsengentsu
A while ago, Creative Consulting & Development Worksblogged about the Red Card initiative, that was run during the 2010 Soccer World Cup, to create awareness about risky sexual behaviour, human trafficking, forced labour and sexual slavery. We are excited to see that this initiative has now extended beyond the World Cup, with organisations coming together to further this goal.
Development Works attended the partner organisations workshop on the Red Card Campaign Against Child Sexual Exploitation, facilitated by Sonke Gender Justice Network on 22 October at the Gugulethu library. Sonke made it clear that they want all organisations dealing with issues related to the Red Card campaign to take an active part in it. The campaign does not belong only to Sonke. It is only through a combined effort that they will really make a difference. (more…)
Referees have shown quite a few red cards during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The most memorable for South African fans will be the red card Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune received in the game against Uruguay.
It was France’s turn for a red card in their game against South Africa when Yousuff Gourcuff was sent off. Brazilian fans were upset when their team’s star, Kaka, was given a red card in their game against Ivory Coast. And last night, in their game against Spain, a red card for Ricardo Costa rubbed salt in the wounds of a loosing Portugal.
According to FIFA’s rules a red card can be given when a very dangerous tackle is made, when an opponent is fouled to keep him from scoring, when a player uses his hands to deny the opposition an opportunity to score, or when the player becomes abusive, offensive or violent.
Scrutinize, a national campaign being undertaken in South Africa by USAID/Johns Hopkins University/JHU Program, which aims to educate the public on the risks of HIV/AIDS, is now also using a red card in their campaigns. Just like a referee would produce a red card if a player exhibits dangerous behaviour, Scrutinize is urging South Africans to recognise dangerous sexual behaviour and “give it the red card”. Do not entertain it, simply send it “off the field” and out of your life.
Watch one of the animated Scrutinize TV commercials using the red card metaphor to highlight the dangers of risky sexual behaviour:
Because major events such as the Soccer World Cup creates the possibility for predators to perpetrate human trafficking, Free Generation International is also using the “red card” against forced labour and sexual slavery. Their website gives safety tips to members of the public and tells you how to recognise a victim of human trafficking. There is a toll-free number to call for help. To create awareness about human trafficking, you can download a picture of a red card and paste it to your website or send it to your friends and family.
Creative Consulting & Development Works is a research, evaluation and communications consultancy, servicing nonprofits, government and funders with innovative solutions in a development context.
On our blog, Development Talks, we discuss politics and social development. We are interested in the impact of politics on the ordinary citizen and the political activities of those on the ground.
