AFRICA: Photo Exhibition at AU Summit to Raise Awareness on Violence Against Women

Within the framework of the Year of Peace and Security in Africa, the African Union (AU) in partnership with UNIFEM (part of UN Women) presented a photo exhibition during the 15th AU Summit in Kampala, Uganda. Under the theme “Make Peace Happen: Prevent Violence against Women and Girls”, the exhibition featured a series of pictures that aimed to raise awareness on the ruthless reality faced by women in conflict situations.

By presenting the stories of women, children and communities affected by armed conflict, the images conveyed the message that peace is only possible through ending violence against women and girls. The thirty photos cast light on the various forms of gender-based violence and the reasons why women and girls are particularly vulnerable in conflict and post-conflict situations. The exhibition also presented strategies that have been developed to address the issue.

The exhibition was on display on 19-25 July as a side event from the African Union mid-year Assembly, and on 28-29 July it was open to the public at a gallery in Kampala. The opening ceremony was attended by Jane Mpagi, Director of Gender in the Ugandan Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Development; Aissatou Hayatou from the Peace and Security Council of the African Union; Florence Butegwa, Representative of the UNIFEM Liaison Office to the AU and UNECA; and Ruth Ochieng, Executive Director of the non-governmental organization Isis – Women's International Cross-Cultural Exchange (Isis-WICCE).

The exhibition was made possible through the collaboration of the AU Peace and Security Department, UNIFEM, the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), UNICEF, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and Isis-WICCE. It was developed in the context of the African Union peace and security agenda and the UN Secretary-General's UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign.