TransformU bodyright Student Challenge 2022

Background

Academic institutions play an important role in the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by providing knowledge and expertise in key subject areas. In an effort to work effectively with the academic community, UNFPA created and formally launched a University Network (called TransformU) in March 2019. TransformU is a membership-based network that invites institutions of higher education, continuing education and educational associations to join UNFPA’s vision to address UNFPA’s transformative results. One of the key priorities for the TransformU network is to increase student awareness and engagement in UNFPA’s work. As part of UNFPA’s efforts to increase student awareness and engagement, TransformU is launching a student-focused online challenge on bodyright set to launch during the 16 Days of Activism in November 2022. 

 

Bodyright

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the digitalization of society: education, social, medical, and economic life moved to the online space and technology became an even more essential tool for women and girls. This created new opportunities to reach and support survivors of violence. However, it also created new spaces through which women and girls are exposed to violence and abuse that is facilitated by technology. Research from UNFPA shows an increase in misogynistic and violent language online. For example, in Thailand, people took to Twitter to blame victims in cases of sexual violence and misogynistic comments under girls’ posts were more frequent since the onset of the pandemic in Bangladesh. Other reports show how pervasive the issue is: 85% of women globally have experienced or witnessed digital violence against other women and 57% of women have had their videos or images online abused or misused.

 

What is UNFPA doing about it?

UNFPA wants to ensure that women and girls can express themselves freely online and access these resources without fearing violence and abuse. UNFPA also promotes the ethical use of technology to prevent online violence and respond to the needs of survivors. In December 2021, UNFPA launched the global bodyright campaign. This is a movement against image-based abuse specifically but that aims to stress the urgency of addressing all forms of online violence against women and girls. UNFPA is rallying all partners and supporters, from tech companies and social media platforms to policymakers, civil society and the general public, to promote the safe and ethical use of technology and develop concrete actions to put an end to online violence. We all have a role to play and a responsibility to address this issue that violates women’s rights and threatens gender equality.

 

TransformU Student Bodyright Campaign

UNFPA’s Division of Communications and Strategic Partnerships is launching a social media challenge for students of universities globally, including but not limited to individual students, youth associations, student groups and networks, youth advocacy groups to develop creative and engaging content on the theme of bodyright. The challenge will serve to create awareness on the issues related to online violence against women and girls. The winner will have the chance to win an all-expenses paid trip to New York City to attend a global advocacy event at the UN Secretariat. Details on how to participate below.

 

CHALLENGE RULES

Please read through carefully to ensure your submission meets the eligibility criteria.

What to post to enter:

• To enter the challenge, students are required to post a photo or reel to social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok and Twitter), reflecting their creative expression of the bodyright campaign. The post is required to raise awareness on the issue of online abuse, bodily autonomy and the bodyright campaign.
• Submissions can include original multimedia content sharing information about bodyright or the topic of online abuse affecting young people. Participants are encouraged to create content that is creative, innovative and engaging on any aspect of the bodyright campaign.
• Post(s) can include photos, videos, skits, coffee art, illustrations, animations, etc. or any form of creative expression about bodyright and online abuse more broadly.
• Content should ideally reference information from the bodyright campaign and/or feature the bodyright logo.
• Content must be unique and the original work of the student submitting the entry

Who can enter the Challenge:
The challenge is open to registered students at the university level globally. Students must be able to prove their affiliation to a university or institution of higher learning by submitting their proof of registration where required.
Participants are allowed to submit multiples entries

Where and how to post

• The challenge will take place on social media platforms including Instagram; Twitter and Facebook.
• All entry posts must include a tag of the @UNFPA account and include these two hashtags:
• #bodyright
• #bodyrightchallenge 
• DEADLINE: Entries will be accepted from 28 November to 31 December 2022.

Challenge prize

• One student participant from the challenge will be selected as the winner of the challenge. As a reward, the winner will receive:
• Two round-trip tickets to New York City*
• Hotel accommodation for two in New York City
• Two tickets to an exclusive event taking place at the United Nations in 2023
• Coverage of Visa application fee costs 
• Repost of winning content and recognition on UNFPA’s social media platforms
• Winners will be announced in February 2023 

*Please note that the grand prize is conditional on the winner being eligible to receive a United States Visa

 

 

 

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• Competition details form part of these terms and conditions
• Entry is open to students registered at any global university except the employees (and their families) of the United Nations
• The entrant(s) must be aged 18 or over or have permission of a responsible adult aged 18 or over.
• All entrants must be willing to provide full name and contact details and to have these details passed to the suppliers of the prizes. The use of a false name or address may result in disqualification.
• All entries must be made directly by the person entering the challenge.
• By entering this content (e.g., photo, video, text, etc.), participants understand and agree that UNFPA, anyone acting on behalf of UNFPA, shall have the right, where permitted by law, to print, publish, broadcast, distribute, and use in any media now known or hereafter developed, in perpetuity and throughout the World, without limitation, their entry, name, portrait, picture, voice, likeness, image, statements about the Campaign, and biographical information for news, publicity, information, trade, advertising, public relations, and promotional purposes. without any further compensation, notice, review, or consent.
• By entering this content, participants represent and warrant that their entry is an original work of authorship, and does not violate any third party’s proprietary or intellectual property rights. If their entry infringes upon the intellectual property right of another, they will be disqualified at the sole discretion of UNFPA.
• No responsibility can be accepted for entries lost, delayed or corrupted, or due to computer error in transit.
• The prizes are as stated, are not transferable to another individual.
• The winner(s) is(are) responsible for expenses and arrangements not specifically included in the prizes, including any necessary travel documents and passports. Prizes are subject to availability and the prize suppliers' terms and conditions.
• UNFPA reserves the right to amend or alter the terms of challenges and reject entries from entrants not entering into the spirit of the challenge.
• In the event of a prize being unavailable, UNFPA reserves the right to offer an alternative prize of equal or greater value.
• The winner(s) agree(s) to the prospective use of their name, photograph and disclosure of country of residence and will co-operate with any other reasonable requests by UNFPA relating to any post-winning publicity.
• Reasonable efforts will be made to contact the winner(s). If the winner(s) cannot be contacted, or are unable to comply with these terms and conditions, UNFPA reserves the right to offer the prize to the runner(s)-up selected by the same judges.
• Failure to respond and/or provide an address for delivery, or failure to meet the eligibility requirements may result in forfeiture of the prize.
• The final winner will be selected by a panel of judges inclusive of UNFPA staff members from the Division of Communication and Strategic Partnerships, the Gender and Human Rights Branch and the TransformU Coordination Committee.
• Where applicable, the decision of the judges is final and no correspondence will be entered into over this decision. 
• The challenge may be modified or withdrawn at any time.
• The organizer is United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), 605 Third Avenue, NY10158
• In the event of a discrepancy between these standard terms and conditions and the details in the promotional material (or any other terms and conditions provided/referred to at the time of entry), the details of the promotional material (and any other terms and conditions provided/referred to at the time of entry) shall prevail.