WOMEN IN FOCUS: Perempuan Punya Cerita & Pertaruhan

WOMEN, VIOLENCE & POVERTY IN FOCUS: Perempuan Punya Cerita & Pertaruhan
Film Screening
Wed 25 Nov, 5pm to 10pm
Presented by Amnesty International Malaysia
Admission by donation


In conjunction with the International Day Against Violence Against Women, Amnesty International Malaysia is proud to present a screening of two movies “Perempuan Punya Cerita (Chants Of Lotus)” and “Pertaruhan (At Stake)” produced by Indonesian filmmaker Nia Di Nata, known for her thought-provoking films “Berbagi Suami” and “Arisan”. The screening, whic h will be accompanied by discussions, is part of AI Malaysia’s efforts to show solidarity and raise concern over the current human rights situation affecting women all over the world. Check out the programme below.

COME SUPPORT THIS EVENT AND HELP END HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AGAINST WOMEN!

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EVENT PROGRAMME

5:30pm to 7pm – Screening of “Perempuan Punya Cerita” (“Chants Of Lotus”) (104 minutes, Indonesian with English subtitles)
“Perempuan Punya Cerita” is made up of four sections directed by four different women filmmakers. Each section of the four sections -- Cerita Pulau, Cerita Jogjakarta, Cerita Cibinong and Cerita Jakarta -- tackles a different story, focusing on the lives of women in Indonesia and the hardships they have to face because of society’s attitudes towards their gender.
Visit http://filmwblog.com/2007/12/27/perempuan-punya-cerita-chants-of-lotus/ for details. 
7pm – Short discussion

7:30pm – Break & Signing of Amnesty International’s global petition calling on governments and the UN system to ensure that the new UN agency for women is given the resources, personnel and authority it needs to make a real difference to women's lives around the world. In September 2009, all governments agreed to the creation of strong United Nations agency for women. This agency will have greater capacity to help the UN and governments, with the full engagement of civil society, to ensure that women and girls around the world enjoy their rights in practice. 

8pm to 9.30pm – Screening of “Pertaruhan” (“At Stake”) (106 minutes, Indonesian with English subtitles)
“Pertaruhan” is an eye-opening anthology of four themed documentaries tackling taboo issues that many women are facing in Indonesia, including female genital mutilation to discrimination against unmarried women. The four films were directed by five emerging filmmakers.
Visit http://www.indonesianfilmfestival.com.au/2009/pertaruhan.html for further details.
9:30pm to 10pm – Open discussion

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BACKGROUND

For the 2009 International Day Against Violence Against Women, Amnesty International focuses on women, violence and poverty. Women are among the most affected by poverty but at the same time they hold the greatest potential to reverse poverty. Women’s rights and women’s active participation have to be in the centre of all poverty reduction strategies in order for them to be successful. Women are disproportionately affected by poverty because of their gender. More than 70 per cent of people living in poverty are women, according to UN estimate.

Poverty, for women, is both a consequence and a cause of violence. The violence women face helps keep them poor, and it is women living in poverty who are most exposed to violence. Discrimination and violence against women often go hand in hand, resulting in the denial of women’s rights to health, education, shelter and food. Poverty in turn puts women and girls at risk of further abuse and violence, closing the vicious circle.

On this year’s International Day Against Violence Against Women, We would like to convey the message Women’s rights and women’s active participation are at the centre of all the solutions to poverty because women – as family and community members, or as human rights defenders - are the most active agents of positive social change and human rights progress for all.

Please come and support this discussion. Contact the office for further details at 03-79552680.

Amnesty International Malaysia
www.aimalaysia.org