Behind The #KandakasAreHumiliated Campaign

Since the world went into self-quarantine or self-isolation as a move to curb the spread of COVID-19, reports and concerns over domestic violence have increased. In Sudan, many young women began sharing their stories about being violently abused by their family members on social media, asking for help. As a result, people are getting more consciousness of the issue. Social media influencers as well as celebrities began using their platforms to raise awareness about domestic violence (DV), and gender-based violence (GBV).

Domestic violence is the abuse that takes place in a household by husband, wife, parents or other family members. The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines domestic violence as ‘the range of physically, psychologically and sexually coercive acts used against adult and adolescent women by current or former male intimate partners’. It’s practiced against women, children, and men, although, women are the most exposed to domestic abuse. ‘There are many reasons to this but as a general view and at its core it goes back to existing patriarchal systems, structures and already existing hierarchies,’ said 22-year-old Rawaa Ahmed, an international relations and public sciences graduate, and head of gender equality committee at a non-governmental organisation called Vois Cyprus in Northern Cyprus.

There are no triggers for DV or GBV. It revolves around the patriarchal system that gives men the social power to control over women, children and other men, and practice violence against them without supervision. ‘Violence and especially domestic violence as a universal issue is a way of using power, control and coercion to inflict pain on a survivor,’ said Ahmed.

DV includes physical, verbal, sexual, emotional, and economical abuses. Marital rape, acid throwing, beating, choking, and female genital mutilation (FGM) are examples of DV.

According to a 2016 UN report about violence against women in Sudan, domestic violence is widespread and invisible, due to the absence of reporting mechanism, as well as lack of adequate policies and programmes. It also stated that people who are exposed to domestic violence are rare to have an assistant or support even by their families, friends, or neighbours because it’s considered a private matter. Many communities in Sudan believe it’s normal for a man to physically abuse his wife and children as a form of discipline.

In addition, the report said that women have the right to lay charges against their abusers for simple or serious harm, but such cases are rare and difficult to bring before a court, due to factors relating to the justice system, and to social and economic factors. 

Ahmed believes, ‘violence proposers when we tolerate it, and flourishes when we are silent about it. Domestic violence thrives when we are silent when we victim blame when we don’t hold perpetrators accountable when we normalise and justify it in our everyday conversations when we joke about it, and most importantly, when we don’t stand up and speak up against it.’

A hashtag called #KandakasAreHumiliated has recently been launched over various social media platforms to highlight domestic violence in Sudan amid COVID-19. The online campaign was launched by beauty and fashion entrepreneur Hiba Sharfi to raise awareness about domestic violence and gender-based violence in Sudan, especially during the ongoing lockdown, and to empower victims of abuse to speak up and seek help.

The UK-based entrepreneur is the founder of the beauty center, Hiba Sharfi Center, in Sudan. She is known to be outspoken on social media platforms on social and socio-political issues in Sudan. During the December revolution, she used her social media platforms especially Instagram to spread news and awareness about the Sudanese revolution to the rest of the world. She has over 65,000 followers on her social media platforms (Instagram 38,1K, Facebook 22,789, Twitter 4,818).

The inspiration of this movement came to her when a friend of hers sent her a tweet about domestic violence. ‘I couldn’t open the photo or look at it. She was covered in blood, it was very bad,’ she said. As a result, she wanted to provide help and safe shelter to anyone who is exposed to abuse in Sudan and encourage them to speak up.

‘This hashtag is a wake-up call,’ she said. It’s a call to the community to pay attention to this issue and to the authorities to work towards strict legislations and laws. The movement is targeting different kinds of artists, like poets, musicians, graphic designers, singers, painters, photographers, etc. ‘Art is an amazing, beautiful and powerful way to express your feeling and send a message,’ said Sharfi.

ماف حاجة في الدنيا ممكن يتفق عليها الناس كلهم. لكن الحملة دي بي اسمها بي تفاصيلها كلها. معمولة عشان (ايقاف العنف في السودان) العنف و الاهانة بكل اشكاله. فياريت لو انت ضد العنف تشارك و لو ضد الحملة، السكوت اجمل❤️.#الكنداكه_تهان#kandakasarehumiliated pic.twitter.com/bugNyfPg1p

— hiba sharfi (@SharfiHiba) May 15, 2020

The campaign has been well-received by some. Sudanese singers, graphic designers, artists, makeup artists and others participated in it. Sharfi thinks this is the role of social media and public figures, to inspire, influence, lead and spread awareness.

This is not OK.. And it will never be OK
Let’s break the internet again for our Kandakas
Let’s stop domestic violence#الكنداكه_تهان#kandakasarehumiliated pic.twitter.com/2CY1ecerBg

— mohamed badr (@itsmoebadr) May 15, 2020

⭕️Where home is the only place we feel safe, there are women who are suffering from domestic violence as they get attacked by their closest people. We need to stand together so we can be heard and stop it. 💪🏽🗣#الكنداكه_تهان #العنف_الاسري#domesticviolence #kandakasarehumiliated pic.twitter.com/h33I6MF0Ya

— E S S T E U K (@i_essteuk) May 16, 2020

However, some have criticised the campaign because of its name. Kandaka is a Sudanese word often used to refer to Sudanese women. Historically, it was used as the title for queens during the reign of the Kingdom of Kush. Some believe using the word kandaka with the word humiliated/humiliation is offensive to the word and its heritage. Others believe the usage of the word humiliated itself is wrong in a sensitive case that’s already stigmatised.

I think a conversation about domestic violence is long overdue but #KandakasAreHumiliated is a terrible hashtag. We have to be careful with the language we choose especially when we aren’t trained professionals. You can’t empower women by further stigmatising the situation.

— Qutoufy (@Qutoufy) May 15, 2020

‘Kandaka is what we called the Sudanese women during the revolution because they were brave. They were kandakas. The word might irritate a lot of people especially the ones living abroad. But it’s the accurate way to describe these brave queens,’ said Sharfi in response to the criticism. The ‘brave queens’ are the women who are victims of abuse.

Victims reached out to Sharfi and spoke about their struggles and emotions. In addition, organisations and activists such as Noon, a feminist movement concerned with the rights of women and minorities in Sudan, reached out to her to offer help and support to the victims of domestic abuse.

There are other similar organisations that are working to stop violence and abuse against women and children in Sudan such as the Combating Violence Against Women Unit, which has recently established national helplines; SEEMA centre, which is an NGO focused on training and protection of women and child’s rights; and SIHA Network, a coalition of women’s rights activists addressing women’s subordination and violence against women and girls in the Horn of Africa.

In a 2014 study by BMC Health Services Research, an open-access peer-reviewed journal found that of 1,009, 33.5% of women (338) in Eastern Sudan are currently experiencing DV, of these 338 women, 179 (53%) and 159 (47%) reported moderate and severe form of physical violence respectively. The prevalence of sexual coercion, psychological violence and verbal insult was 17%. Children exposed to DV have a high rate of social and emotional problems if they have survived.

It’s crucial to address the right approach to empower and help victims, so they can be strong and be able to stand in the face of any abuse and speak up. ‘Be empathetic in your empowerment, never victim blame or push your opinion or bias on them, be sensitive and receptive, be a safe space and offer help allow them to accept voluntarily?’ said Ahmed. 

She advises DV victims and GBV victims to ‘first know that you’re not alone if you’re a survivor know that nothing is ever your fault. Please reach out for help if and when you can, call the helplines.’

Sharif’s advice to victims of abuse is to speak up. ‘Unless you speak up, it’s not going to stop. So you have to speak up and ask for help from your family, friends, or professionals. And it’s not your fault, you’re not responsible for their suffering. You’re strong and we’re proud of you,’ she said.

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Born and raised in Omdurman, Thuraya Salih is a senior student at Sudan University of Science and Technology (SUST) and an amateur writer who is passionate about all forms of art.