Wrong or exaggerated statements undermine the credibility of a campaign. Information used in a campaign must be accurate and up-to-date. Statistics or other information should not be quoted without verifying the source and comparing it with other sources. Reports by academic, government and UN institutions usually offer more accurate data than newspaper reports. Appropriate research on the campaign issue should be carried out to ground the campaign on robust evidence. (See Campaign Planning in this module).
As with any other project, a campaign needs to be managed in a responsible, accountable manner. Accountability is not only about effective checks and balances in campaign finances. It is also about unambiguous decision-making mechanisms and documentation, about taking responsibility and being open to critical feedback, both on campaign processes and their outcomes. Accountability nurtures trust and appreciation among campaigners, thus lending cohesiveness to the campaign. This module’s sections on Campaign Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation and Campaign finances and fundraising provide advice on how to develop campaign accountability.
Since violence against women and girls is a pervasive, multi-faceted issue, campaigners, particularly those who may be new to the issue, or who may not have been adequately sensitized, may sometimes inadvertently undermine their own messages or those of the campaign’s, e.g. by using images that reinforce stereotypes about “submissive” womanhood. They may even perpetrate certain forms of VAW, such as physical maltreatment of their daughters. It can be highly educational and empowering for campaigners to carefully examine their own lives and ensure they do not perpetrate or condone any form of VAW. See also “Starting with an insider initiative”.