GEIA launched its photo-exhibition ‘Women and War: Evolving the Narrative of Women’s Contributions to Peace & Security’
On Thursday, September 19th, GEIA launched its photo exhibition titled “Women & War: Evolving the Narrative of Women’s Contributions to Peace & Security”. GEIA Research Scholar, Jessica Smith, who curated the exhibition, shared her experience using photovoice as a research and advocacy tool and discussing findings from the project that have implications for policy and practice focused on gender, peace and security. The event was moderated by GEIA Director, Dr. Shirley Graham.
The exhibition was part of a GEIA series making visible women’s participation and representation in formal/informal political spaces, articulating their visions for a gender equal and peaceful society. Each photograph in this exhibition was taken by a woman in Bosnia-Herzegovina who survived the war in former Yugoslavia from 1992-1995. These images and stories, which focus on women’s resilience and contribution, offer a counter-narrative to portrayals of victimhood and gender-based violence often used to depict women’s experiences of conflict. Using a technique called photovoice, this project put cameras in the hands of Bosnian women to give them ownership over the narratives that represent their experiences. The resulting exhibition features stories from 29 women who shared their first-hand accounts of forging a way forward in the aftermath of war, and the challenges and triumphs that have accompanied this journey.
The Global Women’s Institute, and Leadership, Ethics, and Practice Initiative were co-sponsors. The launch was followed by a drinks reception. The exhibition was on display and open to the public in September 2019.
