Others Star In Deafening Silence

TEuropean Union ( EU) and the United Nations Development Programme ( UNDP) have indicated their resolve to leverage the power of art to combat sexual and gender based violence ( SGBV). This, they noted, is because of the potency of art as a driver of social transformation.

The Spotlight Initiative aligns strongly with the government's gender priorities as well as the European Union and the United Nations Gender Action Points. The intervention is on gender equality, women's empowerment, and combating SGBV and Violence Against Women ( VAW).

Both bodies spoke at the premiere of the movie, Deafening Silence, a feature film on the theme of SGBV, now showing in cinemas across the country.

Starring celebrated actors such as Kate Henshaw, Chidi Mokeme, Femi Jacob, Daniel Etim- Effiong and others, the movie was premiered at the Ebony Life Place Cinema in Victoria Island, Lagos.

The joint EU- UN Spotlight

Initiative, funded by the EU, is a global, multi- year partnership between the European Union and the United Nations to eliminate all forms of violence and harmful practices against women and girls by 2030. It sought to pull together substantive work that has been done around GEWE and SGBV, leveraging the power of storytelling and media to create a transformative impact in Nigeria, a country where gender- based violence and harmful gender norms persist.

In Nigeria, the Spotlight Initiative was implemented in five states: Sokoto, Cross River, Lagos, Adamawa, and Ebonyi, as well as the Federal Capital Territory ( FCT) and ended in December 2023.

The film seeks to raise awareness and inspire action to combat GBV, promoting a society where gender equality and empowerment are fundamental values.

Deafening Silence is in three components: Film: A compelling, impactful, and thought- provoking movie that will spark broader discussions in Nigeria about gender equality, empowerment, sexual and genderbased violence, and violence against women. This movie will captivate audiences emotionally and intellectually, providing a forum for critical debate and action.

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