PART 2. PREVENTING SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES A representative of a network of Congolese civil society organisations specialised in the fight against sexual violence leads an awareness-raising operation for local populations in the village of Karuba, Democratic Republic of Congo. © Pierre-Yves Ginet – Women here and elsewhere, Octobre 20, 2010. A. AWARENESS-RAISING STRATEGIES 11. Awareness-raising campaigns 11. 1. States must conduct campaigns to raise awareness – paying particular attention to the most vulnerable populations – about the causes of sexual violence, the different forms it take and its consequences. These campaigns must address the root causes of sexual violence, combat gender-based stereotypes, raise awareness of the unacceptable nature of this violence, and help people to understand that it represents a grave violation of the rights of victims, especially those of women and girls. 11. 2. These campaigns must be targeted towards informing people about the laws enacted to combat violence against women and/or sexual violence, their provisions and the remedies available to victims under these laws. These campaigns must underscore that sexual violence is a criminal offence and specify the corresponding penalties (according to Part 4 of these Guidelines) to deter people from committing these violent acts and send a clear message of zero tolerance. They must also provide information on the mechanisms available to report acts of sexual violence as well as the measures to protect, assist and support victims (according to Part 3 of these Guidelines). 11. 3. These awareness-raising campaigns must also focus on preventing the consequences of sexual violence. They must combat the perception that such actions represent an offence to the honour of a person, their family or community, and must combat so-called “honour crimes” committed against victims. These campaigns must also provide information on the negative effects of settlements between the family of the victim and the attacker, and on the dramatic consequences of having the victim marry the perpetrator of the violence. 11. 4. These campaigns must be disseminated throughout the entire national territory, including rural areas; public places, especially public transportation; hospitals; military bases and police stations; educational institutions, including schools; and businesses. States must also carry out awareness-raising 20 GUIDELINES ON COMBATING SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES IN AFRICA