Gender-based violence is a major global health and human rights issue. It is prevalent and takes place in a wide range of forms from discrimination and bullying to sex trafficking and femicide. At least one in every three women in the world will experience gender-based violence in her life time, be it physical, psychological, and/or sexual (World Health Organization, 2017). These traumatic experiences can cause severe damages to individual victims and social institutions (Heise, Ellsberg, & Gottmoeller, 2002; United Nations Population Fund, 2017). Exposure to such violence and accepting it as the norm at a young age can significantly increase the risk of an individual becoming a perpetrator or a victim later in life (García-Moreno, Jansen, Ellsberg, Heise, & Watts, 2005). Therefore, early interventions among youth are crucial for tackling this complex issue. As part of the UNiTE Campaign to end violence against women and girls, BREAKAWAY is a digital game designed by the Champlain College Emergent Media Center with support from the United Nations Population Fund. The design team chose football (or soccer in the United States) as a universal language to engage young players, particularly those between the ages of 8 and 15, to reflect and discuss gender-based norms, values, and associated behaviors. Since its debut at 2010 FIFA World Cup, BREAKAWAY has been played by youth in over 180 countries. Gender stereotypes and gender-based violence are deeply entrenched in many countries. However, with events such as the “GamerGate” controversy arising out of misogyny within the gaming community and most recently the #MeToo movement
that is breaking the walls of silence against sexual assault, the BREAKAWAY initiative is more meaningful than ever.
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