Women’s Rights take Centre Stage in Dhaka

NGO News Report :: UN Women, ActionAid Bangladesh and partners bring to Bangladesh the stories of pioneering women’s rights activists through the renowned documentary play SEVEN in celebration of International Women’s Day and the 20th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action – the global commitment to advance gender equality.

To mark International Women’s Day 2015 and the 20-year anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, UN Women and ActionAid Bangladesh arranged a press conference yesterday on on “SEVEN: a documentary play” held at the National Parliament Media Centre

H.E. Hanne Fugl Eskjaer, Ambassador of Denmark, H.E. Merete Lundemo, Ambassador of Norway, Ms. Farah Kabir, Country Director, ActionAid Bangladesh, Ms. Rokia Rahman, President, Bangladesh Federation of Women Entrepreneurs, H.E. Wanja Campos da Nóbrega, Ambassador of Brazil, Ms Christine Hunter, Country Representative UN WOMEN Bangladesh.Ms Tove Eriksson, Project Manager, Seven On Tour were present in the press conference. The press conference was held to disclose the issue towards the media.

On the 6th of March seven prominent women in Bangladesh will lend their voices to these stories, and perform a reading of the play at the Chayyanaut Theatre. The documentary play “Seven” captures the challenges and obstacles faced by women activists from Russia, Pakistan, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Afghanistan, Guatemala and Cambodia, but it is these women’s strength and courage that really grips the audience.

Seven seeks to put women’s rights higher on political and social agenda by spreading these stories with the help of strong voices on stage. Seven has been performed in 32 countries, bringing together people from grass root organizations, governmental institutions and activist networks. It has been a catalyst for change, igniting new conversations on gender equality and women’s rights. To date Seven has been translated into 23 languages – Bangla is next!

In March 2014 in Dhaka women Ambassadors and heads of UN agencies performed Seven to mark International Women’s Day. It was a powerful moment for the audience of over 300 and for the readers. Building on this success, UN Women supported by the Swedish Embassy will translate the play into Bangla and use it to mobilize efforts to prevent violence against women.

To launch that, seven women leaders from Bangladesh and the international community will again do a reading for international women’s day, hoping to attract a diverse crowd with thoughts and ideas on key issues women’s rights in Bangladesh today.

UN Women recognises the readers for their leadership and initiatives in advancing gender equality in Bangladesh and for the continued support from our partners at the Embassy of Sweden, the Embassy of Denmark, the Embassy of Norway, the Embassy of Bhutan, the Embassy of Brazil and ActionAid Bangladesh and Hedda Produktion AB for this event.