U.S. Embassy to Mark November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Launch 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence

November 23, 2007

To note November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and to launch a program supporting the related campaign, “16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence”, the United States Embassy is screening a series of acclaimed films highlighting the struggle to end violence against women.

On November 26, the Charge d’Affaires of the United States Embassy, Randy Berry, will formally announce the film festival schedule (below), and call upon all male employees at the U.S. Embassy to pledge never to commit, condone nor remain silent about violence against women.  Male employees who take the pledge will wear a White Ribbon as a symbol of that commitment.

The film screenings are scheduled for 12:30 p.m. at the Embassy and are free and open to the public. To reserve a seat to see one or more films, please call Janaki at 400-7200, extension 4357, and provide her your name and which film(s) you wish to attend.

All films will be shown in the Multi-purpose Room of the U.S. Embassy, right next to the American Library.

Schedule of Films for “16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence”

Tuesday, November 27, 12:30 p.m.
“Born Again” – (43 minutes, Nepali) This moving documentary outlines the status of widows in Nepal and identifies some traditions that can victimize widows in Nepal.

Wednesday, November 28, 12:30 p.m.
“The Day My God Died” – (53 minutes, English)  This Emmy-nominated documentary portrays the plight of Nepali girls who are trafficked to Indian brothels, where they are subject to sexual exploitation, violence, and the risk of AIDS.  

Thursday, November 29, 12:30 p.m.
“Witch – Myth or Reality?”  - (37 minutes, English and Nepali) Based on a true story and concluding with documentary footage of the victim, this film features interviews and discussion built around a re-enactment of a Nepali woman falsely accused of witchcraft who subsequently died from the “treatment” by a local traditional healer.

Friday, November 30, 12:30 p.m.
“Four Years in Hell” – (21 minutes, English and Nepali)  This award-winning documentary features a moving, first-person account by a trafficking victim who is finally rescued from a Mumbai brothel, and returns to her village Nepal with HIV/AIDS.

Monday, December 3, 12:30 p.m.
“Conflict and Rape:  Reminiscences” – (27 minutes, English)   A documentary tracing how rape was used as weapon of war by both the Maoists and government forces to subjugate women and instill fear in the population.

Tuesday, December 4, 12:30 p.m.
“War Widows:  Waiting for Justice” – (25 minutes, Nepali) There are over 6000 women who were widowed by the conflict in Nepal.  In this documentary, the women tell their own stories of loss and reveal how the conflict struck women of every caste and ethnicity.

Wednesday, December 5, 12:30 p.m.
“She Write” – (54 minutes, Hindi with English sub-titles) An interesting film that outlines the gender bias and discrimination against women writers in India, often originating from critics, academe, and even within their own families.

Thursday, December 6, 12:30 p.m.
“Search for Freedom” – (54 minutes, English) This powerful documentary depicts the struggle of four Afghani women, including a singer, a war widow, a medical student, and a teacher, to find freedom and dignity in a time of death, destruction, and repression.

Friday, December 7, 12:30 p.m.
“Mother, Sister, Daughter” – (26 minutes, English and Nepali) A documentary that reveals the physical and mental scars of Nepali women subject to ritual violence, post birth banishment, and attempted murder for insufficient dowry.

The scheduled film screenings are free and open to the public but all guests are asked to reserve a seat by calling the Embassy in advance at 400-7200, extension 4357 (Janaki).

“16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence” begins with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25, and ends with International Human Rights Day on December 10, 2007.  We encourage participation in the film festival hosted by the U.S. Embassy and public commitment to end the scourge of gender violence.

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