Photo exhibition - Women Rebuilding Life in Post-Tsunami Asia

Photo exhibition - Women Rebuilding Life in Post-Tsunami Asia
by Agostino Pacciani
8 to 14 March 2006 – Salle des Actes
Opening on Wednesday 8 March 2006, at 6:30 pm

The exhibition will bring together twenty photos taken by the photo-journalist Agostino Pacciani, who travelled in several countries affected by the tsunami in order to witness the specific situation women in these regions are facing as they reconstruct their houses, villages, cities and lives. The collection of photos expresses the emotion and vitality of these women, their strength and incredible perseverance, their confidence, and their hope for the future.

"This photo exhibition impressively underlines that women have been and are at the heart of recovery and reconstruction processes in post- natural disaster situations. A similar situation exists in post-conflict situations where women's contribution to reconciliation, rebuilding and recovery are not only exemplary, but also crucial for a peaceful future of countries.

Hence, let us salute the brave women who - thanks to this exhibition which is at the same time artistic, wonderful, humanely disturbing and socially encouraging - remain no longer nameless faces to us, whatever their names or nationalities may be."

Hans d'Orville
Director of the Bureau of Strategic Planning, UNESCO