Under the framework of the UN Women Global Black Women’s Programme, UN Women Multi-Country Office (MCO) - Caribbean and UNESCO are partnering to facilitate economic empowerment and movement building opportunities for women and young people in the creative and cultural sectors across the Caribbean, Latin America and Africa. This joint project aims to bring visibility to the ways Afro-descendant women contribute to sustainable development through cultural exchanges, knowledge sharing and movement building.
UN Women recognises the important influence and voice of cultural actors through its past work in collaborating with artists on advocacy to prevent and end Gender-based Violence; partnership through the creativity and expression of carnival to promote gender equality and through conversations led with creatives to discuss and dismantle harmful cultural norms which are barriers to women’s empowerment and gender equality. Indeed, in its new four-year Strategic Plan, UN Women MCO Caribbean has centrally positioned creative and cultural institutions and industries as key actors to promote healthy cultural norms towards Caribbean countries experiencing economic resilience, safety and social cohesion in order to build forward equal.
The UN Women/UNESCO partnership was launched with a discussion entitled "Ain't I a Woman Black Women, Creativity and Freedom" in collaboration with NYU Africa House, featuring Afro-descendent women cultural actors and moderated by Miss Universe 2019, Zozibini Tunzi.
Participants:
- Dr. Erna Brodber, Cultural Historian, Social Activist, Scholar and Author - Jamaica;
- Carol Bouwer, Founder, Mbokodo Awards for Women in the Arts; Trustee, Norval Foundation (of the Arts Museum) & Carol Bouwer productions – South Africa;
- Ngardy Conteh George, Co-Founder Oya Media Group - Sierra Leonean-Canadian award-winning film director, film editor, film producer;
- Nancy Morejón, Poet, Critic, and Essayist - Cuba.
UN Women and UNESCO partner on a black women, men and youth social justice and development programme. The UN Women’s nascent global Black Women Programme is designed to connect women of African descent in Africa and the Diaspora through comprehensive programming around economic empowerment in the creative industries; connect women’s movements across the Diaspora to strengthen their voices, action, and impact; and address violence against women.
Public Service Announcement Series
An art exhibition and auction featuring work by 26 Black women artists, benefitting Black women
Tonni and Anne_Art Ex Launch: UN Women MCO Caribbean Representative Tonni Brodber and South Africa MCO Representative Ms. Anne Shongwe at #AFORCEFORCHANGE at the New York launch of the global UN Women Black Women
Sheena Rose Black: “Another One Bites the Dust” - Featured work of one of the contributing artists to the UN Women
Using powerful photographs and a diversity of voices to highlight the organization’s partnerships and work around the world, the book offers a brief history of the organization’s creation and snapshots of contributions made to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment from the grassroots, local, regional, and global levels.
Maria-Noel Vaeza, Regional Director of UN Women for the Americas and the Caribbean with the UN Women team in Jamaica, including the Multi Country Office Caribbean Representative, Tonni Brodber touring the Water Lane Mural Project, which is part of a wider project to develop the Downtown Kingston Art District and Creative Hub and contribute to the growth of the local Creative Economy. The murals highlight crucial themes, including gender-based violence, the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and African heritage.
Building on the culture of the Caribbean, UN Women Multi-Country Office – Caribbean partnered with Trinidad and Tobago carnival band – THE LOST TRIBE, to celebrate UN Women’s 10 years of existence and raise awareness about gender equality.
Tonni Brodber, Deputy Representative of UN Women MCO - Caribbean said the partnership with THE LOST TRIBE represents an opportunity to take the message of gender equality to the general public through cultural avenues.
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