Solidaridad Internacional: Ideas for a short film about gender and violence against women Competition. Presents

Transcription

1 Presents -Middle East Short film Competition- Briefing Solidaridad Internacional (SI) is a NGO who works in over 20 countries in Latin America, Africa and Middle East, which main goal is to create a world much fairer and solidarity, through actions of development cooperation, awareness raising and advocacy for social change. Solidaridad Internacional, joint to its local partners, is implementing an agreement to improve sexual and reproductive rights of women in Palestine, Jordan and Lebanon, as well as their right to live a life free of violence. In this context, Solidaridad Internacional wants to carry out a competition to achieve an audiovisual material as a tool for raising awareness population and reporting violence against women in Middle East. Background Women (refugees and residents) in Palestinian territories, Lebanon and Jordan have difficulty accessing basic social services, such as health, in a situation of serious conflict (internal strife between Palestinian groups, Israeli control of West Bank and Gaza, and

2 fragmentation of Palestinian territory, and continuous conflicts between Israel and neighboring countries). Culture and traditions have enormous influence; women are subject to the patriarchal system, in a position of vulnerability and discrimination. Violence against women is a structural problem, which serious consequences, such as high levels of poverty and low development opportunities. In addition, the high rates of domestic violence are invisible and unrecognized by society and institutions. In recent decades there has been a significant progress in the international legal framework regarding rights of women, by signing International agreements and conventions whose full implementation will represent a significant advance. Thus, fundamental rights, such as privacy, freedom of thought, right to information and education, right to political participation, right to security, freedom from all forms of violence or coercion that jeopardizes the physical integrity of persons, figure in the International Conference on Population and Development held in Cairo and the Conference on Women in Beijing. However, in Middle East, most of the countries have ratified these agreements subject to reservations and, consequently, women face life with significant restrictions on their fundamental rights and low expectations of change. Legal frameworks are discriminatory, especially related to family law. In addition, public institutions are weak and they are not able to guarantee women's rights signed in international treaties. Most of women are socially and economically dependent, which limit their autonomy, decision capacity and the possibility to exercise their economic rights. In this context, gender violence is deeply rooted in an unequal patriarchal society. Despite legislative progress, women who suffer gender violence are pressured to not report it. Patriarchal culture, economic situation and the climate of violence generated by the occupation, accentuate violence against women in Palestine Occupied Territories. Women are concerned about psychological effects that war has on them and particularly on their children. Women ask for spaces to express themselves and need to organize themselves into associations/organizations that allow them to implement activities that will benefit them and the community. What we want to communicate

3 The competition aims to put on the spotlight the problem of gender-based violence in this context and to visualize the work done in Middle East to fight against it. The proposal should encourage audience to know more and to take action to fight against gender violence. The proposal should be interesting / intelligent / inspiring to encourage internet users to share it through internet and social networks, and thus increase its impact. The proposal should visualize the role of civil society organizations, governments and beneficiaries, whose involvement is essential to change the reality existing. The proposal tone should not be negative, do not show women as passive individuals and victims. Target Audience 18 to 35 years old. Internet users. People interesting in gender equality, solidarity, development cooperation and participation for social change. Minimum requirements The following items should be included in the script, either at the beginning or end: Solidaridad Internacional logo AECID logo and the words "Co-funded by" The URL How to present the competition To participate, all interested people must send a proposal (script + story board) according to the criteria reflected in the terms and conditions. They also have to send the registration annex with your personal information and accepting the competition rules in an attachment file or in a separate envelope (if proposal is presented by post). The proposal will be signed with a pseudonym. Personal data will be contained in registration annex. The proposal may be submitted in Spanish or English.

4 The proposal may be sent by mail or by post. Postal address: Solidaridad Internacional in Spain C/Jaén 13 local Madrid Solidaridad Internacional in Jerusalem Edificio Ibrahim Kurd. El Sahel. Shufat Jerusalén

5 Annex- Interesting links and resources Sexual and reproductive rights of women in Palestine, Jordan and Lebanon Information about Solidaridad Internacional work in Middle East. Links to SI partner s websites Palestinian territories Health Work Committees (HWC): Union of Health Work Committees (HWC): Palestinian Medical Relief Society (PMRS): Lebanon Jordan Popular Aid for Relief and Development (PARD): Jordanian Women s Union: "Visualising Women's Rights in the Arab World". An initiative to strengthen the use of visual techniques - like information design, mapping, animation and illustration - by women's rights advocates in the Arab world. In their website you can find good examples. Some videos: DonaMcine First short film festival: films for women made by women ory&id=4:concurso&itemid=6&layout=default