Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 4 April (BelTA) - Violence against women is a problem which should be tacked together, UNFPA Country Director for Belarus and UNFPA Representative in Ukraine Caspar Peek said at the public demonstration of the play Seven at the Yanka Kupala National Academic Theater in Minsk on 4 April, BelTA has learned.

Among the participants of the performance were representatives of the diplomatic corps, mass media, sport, art and business: Belarusian aerial skier, 2014 Olympic champion Anton Kushnir, UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador in Belarus, TV presenter Svetlana Borovskaya, Ambassador of Sweden to Belarus Martin Oberg and others.

The project is a joint initiative of the United Nations Population Fund, the Swedish Embassy in Belarus, and the Swedish Institute in Stockholm. It is aimed at initiating a public discussion on women’s rights and gender-based violence.

The documentary play Seven comprises interviews with seven outstanding women that do their best to change the world to the better. Activists from Pakistan, Cambodia, Nigeria, Guatemala, Afghanistan, Russia and Northern Ireland had to go a long way, experiencing humiliation, violence, pain and bitterness. They, however, withstood in the fight for the right for justice, freedom and equality, they made themselves heard.

“Seven is not just an ordinary play. It is a story about bravery, courage and hope. All seven heroines are united by one problem. They are all violence victims,” said Caspar Peek. UNFPA calls upon the Belarusian society to zero tolerance of gender-based violence.

The producer of the play is Swedish actress, writer and consultant Hedda Krausz Sjogren. The documentary play was created by playwrights Paula Cizmar, Catherine Filloux, Gail Kriegel, Carol K. Mack, Ruth Margraff, Anna Deavere Smith and Susan Yankowitz.

Hedda Krausz Sjogren has come to Minsk for the public demonstration of the play. “We have toured more than 30 countries with our play. Both UNFPA and other organizations took part in the implementation of the project in Belarus,” she stressed and thanked everyone to participated in the project.

The play was translated into 24 languages, including Russian and Belarusian. The play has so far been seen by more than 25,000 people.

The Yanka Kupala Theater also organized an exhibition of photos of 12 persons taking part in the UNFPA awareness campaign against gender-based violence. These are famous athletes, musicians, TV hosts, politicians, diplomats.

On 4 April Belarus hosted the third demonstration of the play. The first demonstration featuring representatives of ministries and diplomats took place in November 2015. Its second showing in March 2016 featured government and non-government experts and journalists writing about gender equality and domestic violence.

The next showing of the play will include Belarusian students and representatives of NGOs. There are also plans for a regional inclusive showing, with the participation of people with disabilities.