Using Theatre to Address Gender Violence in Gaza during 16 Days Campaign for ending GBV
Presenting the problem and Suggesting Solutions
ActionAid Palestine(AAP) continues to work with communities to strengthen community resilience in facing Gender Based violence (GBV). The local Rights and Resilience(LRP) programme funded by Denmark’s development cooperation- (Danida) and implemented by AAP supported Al-Aqsa sport club based in Gaza Strip to organize a training on theater performances for addressing GBV issues .
AAP brought together six female activists to be trained on how to use theater to mobilize communities and enable discussions of GBV issues. During the course of one month, six young women received an intensive training on skills of performance of theater show, scenario writing and addressing audience The training built on participants’ knowledge and experiences and the performances were highly interactive, with audience members invited to participate in the performances.
Performances reflect well-known stories and cases of women exposed to violence in Gaza Strip. These theater performances were titled with “ Twenty#Twenty”. Each performance reflects a story which has been named with a name of a woman. Performances tackled issues of Gender discrimination, economic conditions that prevent a girl from obtaining her university degree, exercise and practice of sports for girls, which is a challenge in the Gaza community. Suffering of wives who face serious challenges in the presence of a drug addict husbands was highlighted.
More than 78 participants engaged in discussions that was organized after the end of Performances. AAP has also successfully supported partners to use theatre as means to convey important messages about social issues and encourage dialogue within communities as it is a good way to raise awareness of women-related issues.
In a short time, theater presents forms of violence against women in Gaza which are often masked and silenced. Theater performances encourage that facing and acknowledging the issue, having open dialogue, and asking for help could break the cycle of violence and make the society respond to this issue more effectively by preventing violence, protecting the survivors, and acting when it happens.
Through these kinds of performances, AAP hopes to make a difference in the lives of women, young girls and families facing GBV and enhance their knowledge on how to deal with it in Gaza.
One of audience participants , Abed Al-Hamid said after end of performances : “ I would like to express my thank to young women for their wonderful performances since stories of performances unfortunately reflect existing problems in our community and performances presented the problems and solutions”.
The head of Rural Woman Development association, Mrs. Amnah said: “ these performances we watched today are the first of their kind and I am very happy for watching them. I also express my thank to organizers and young women who performed”
Background Information
ActionAid
ActionAid is ActionAid is a global federation working for a world free from poverty and injustice. It is a leading international charity working in over 45 countries. We work with the poorest women and children in the world, changing their lives for good. Our local staff provide immediate, hands-on support to women and children living on the margins of survival. Together we demand action at local, national and international level. We don’t walk away until we’ve achieved lasting change.
ActionAid in Palestine (AAP) started as a program of ActionAid Australia (formerly Austcare) in 2007 and was approved as an ActionAid Country Program, managed by the International Secretariat in 2012. AAP works to strengthen the resilience of Palestinian communities, building the active agency of women and young people to understand their rights and undertake collective activism to address the protracted rights violations resulting from the prolonged occupation of Palestine. In its engagement with communities, AAP works simultaneously with women and youth groups to enhance their leadership capacity and knowledge to practice their citizenship in holding authorities and other duty bearers to account.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Riham Jafari
Coordinator of Advocacy&Communication
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+972 (0) 595242890
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