Video Competition

1. Background

Child sexual abuse, whether online or offline, remains one of the most silenced and mischaracterized forms of violence in Lebanon. It is often dismissed as a “mistake,” a “private matter,” or a “misunderstanding,” allowing harmful behaviors to continue without accountability.

Under the national  “Walking Towards Safety: Fostering Child Protection & Mitigating Child Sexual Abuse in Lebanon” project funded by the Netherlands Embassy in Lebanon , which aims to strengthen child protection systems by building local leadership, enhancing civil society capacity, and establishing sustainable, evidence-based community mechanisms to prevent and respond to child abuse.NO2TA – The Feminist Lab and ABAAD Resource Center for Gender Equality are launching a a youth based video competition to mobilize young creatives in challenging harmful narratives and promoting child protection.

This competition positions storytelling as a tool for awareness, accountability, and change.

2. Objectives

The competition aims to:

• Challenge victim-blaming narratives and societal silence
• Reframe child sexual abuse as a crime, not a misunderstanding
• Promote ethical, responsible storytelling among youth
• Encourage students to contribute to public awareness and advocacy
• Support a shift toward accountability and protection systems

3. Target Participants

The competition is open to youth : (18–25 years old)

• University students (Media, film, journalism, communication, and arts students)
• Content creators.
• Individuals or teams (max. 3 participants per team)

4. Competition Theme

Participants are invited to produce a short video addressing:

• Online grooming
• Child protection and safety
• Victim-blaming narratives
• Adult responsibility
• Safe reporting and accountability

5. Video Requirements

• Duration: 1–3 minutes
• Format: Short film / creative video
• Language: Arabic or English (or both)
• Subtitles: Recommended
• Style: Open (fiction, documentary, animation, experimental)

6. Ethical Guidelines (Mandatory)

All submissions must strictly follow:

• No child actors in explicit or sensitive scenarios
• No reenactment of abuse
• Survivor-centered, non-exploitative storytelling
• Focus on message, awareness, and prevention
• Respect for dignity, safety, and confidentiality

Submissions that violate these guidelines will be disqualified.

7. Evaluation Criteria

Submissions will be evaluated based on:

• Relevance to theme
• Ethical sensitivity
• Clarity of message
• Creativity and originality
• Accuracy of information
• Advocacy impact
• Production quality (within student context)

8. Selection Process

• Open call for submissions
• Shortlisting of top entries
• Final selection by a multidisciplinary jury, including:
  • Child protection expert
  • Legal expert
  • Media/film professional
  • Media ethics specialist
  • Youth representative

9. Awards

• First Prize: Professional camera + cash support
• Second Prize: Content creation kit (equipment) + cash support
• Third Prize: Content creation kit (equipment)
• Certificates for shortlisted participants