My Whistle My Voice

Last Friday, South African women shut down the country a day before the G20 Summit - an initiative led by Women for Change. Across the country, thousands gathered at midday to bring the country to a standstill and honour those who have lost their lives to gender-based violence and femicide. With 16 Days of Activism approaching, it’s crucial that we keep this momentum going. Today, we’re re-releasing an episode born from 16 Days of Activism in Ethiopia, where — like South Africa — women face alarming levels of harassment and violence. Lella Miskir walks through the streets of Addis Ababa, armed with a small, red whistle. Her online campaign, #MyWhistleMyVoice, encourages women to blow their whistle every time a man catcalls them, acts inappropriately towards them, or assaults them. The shrill of her whistle is a reminder that across the continent, our struggles are shared.        Last year, Lella faced death threats for her campaign, forcing her to flee to a remote island. Now, Lella has emerged from a transformative year, declaring herself "the monster that keeps respawning after they thought they killed it." In a powerful new act of resistance, she is hosting a workshop at a feminist festival and committing to a unique act of solidarity: screaming once a day for all 16 days, recording her cry for women worldwide. ________Support the work of Radio Workshop by donating today. Support the showWe can only do this work because of your support. You can make a donation at radioworkshop.org.