What? The 2015 project by UN Women and Hedda Produktion is a one-year long project working with Seven in local communities and universities in order to prevent violence against women and tackle sexual harassment on campuses. The play will be translated into Bangla and produced at University Campuses as part of UN Women’s campaign Safer Campuses, which aims to tackle sexual harassment at campuses. The project will also involve Gender Equality Advocates in local communities.
Through the project local organizers will organize readings of Seven and arrange side activities together with the readings.We will work with the groups to produce the play and support in creating additional activities in order to reach as high an impact as possible.
Why? In March 2014 Seven was performed in Dhaka, by five Ambassadors and two country representatives from the UN, all women. This was repeated again in 2015, this year with the Speaker of Parliament, director of Bangladesh Federation of Women Entrepreneurs, Director for Action Aid in Bangladesh and four Ambassadors on stage. After the initial reading, the feedback was that the play should be translated into Bangla and brought to a wider audience in Bangladesh.
The reality of gender inequality in Bangladesh is harsh. A vast number of women and girls in Bangladesh experience physical, sexual and psychological violence throughout their lives, mainly due to structural inequalities and deep-rooted social norms that condone violence and the subordination of women. 87% of currently married women have experienced some type of violence from husbands or partners, 67% report physical violence (2011). Both women and men have in studies expressed compliance with the violence taking place.
Violence against women is also widespread outside the household: in the streets, in work places and in educational institutions. Studies of violence experienced by unmarried adolescent girls have found over 40% of girls were sexually harassed or abused. A situational analysis carried out by UN Women in 2012 found that 76% of tertiary level female students faced sexual harassment on campus or from other students while off campus.
Based on the combination of the feedback after the initial performance, the reality in Bangladesh and the success of Seven in raising awareness of violence against women in other parts of the world, Hedda Produktion together with UN Women formulated this project.
Where? The project covers eight readings in different locations in Bangladesh. Four of them will be at University campuses and four will be at different locations, owned by Gender Equality Advocates.
When? The project runs throughout 2015. With hopes of continuation in 2016.
Who? UN Women implements the project together with Hedda Produktion and local partners. The project is funded by SIDA through the Swedish Embassy in Bangladesh. An advisory group is involved in order to make sure that the project is adapted appropriately to the local contexts.
For more information, contact project leader Tove Eriksson at tove@tovee.nu.