Half the Sky LIVE, an interactive film event discussing “the most important movement of our time” – to make women full-pledged members of society around the world – was screened in hundreds of cinemas across North America, including one in Ottawa, March 4.
Screenings coincided with the marking of International Women’s Day, an occasion which celebrated its 100th anniversary March 8.
The event was organized by CARE, a global humanitarian organization concerned with empowering marginalized women.
“We need to ensure that we are contributing, investing in helping the root causes of poverty and not in band-aid solutions,” said Andrea Lanthier-Seymour, director of communications at CARE Canada.
The film depicts the gender-based violence engraved in many communities around the world. It also shows the tragedy that one woman dies from pregnancy or a childbirth-related illness every minute.
“These things can be avoided. . . . This is something that needs to be addressed,” said Canadian actress and philanthropist Sonja Smits who spoke prior to the Ottawa screening.
“Inform yourself. Get involved,” she added.
The presentation was inspired by “Half the Sky,” a best-selling book by Pulitzer-Prize winning journalists – and life partners – Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn.
The authors said the most effective way to eliminate poverty is to empower these women.
“The plight of women and girls around the world is not a problem but an opportunity,” Kristof said.
Named after a Chinese proverb that says women hold up half the sky, the bestseller tells stories of extraordinary women who have risen up against violence, sexual abuse and oppression in Asia and Africa.
One of these courageous women is Woineshet Zebene, whose powerful life story inspired a short film, Woineshet, which was shown during Half the Sky LIVE.
Woineshet was abducted from her village when she was only 13 and raped by her future husband. But as Ethiopian law stated, a man could not be prosecuted for violating a woman whom he later married.
Woineshet took her case before Ethiopia’s highest court and had the law reversed, changing a brutal, long-standing tradition.
The short film was directed by Lisa Leone and Oscar-winning actress Marisa Tomei.
Half the Sky LIVE also contained musical performances from a diverse list of performers, from India.Arie to Diana Birch.
Also appearing were actress Maria Bello, Sarah Ferguson (the Duchess of York), and Rachel Mayanja, the UN special adviser on gender issues and the advancement of women.
As many of the participants pleaded, bringing education to these communities is the key to freedom.
Moreover, university students must learn about these human rights issues and advocate for these women, Lanthier-Seymour said.
She also said the Canadian government should do more.
“In terms of aid, Canada is not one of the top spenders,” Lanthier-Seymour said, regarding the recent federal budget that froze spending on foreign aid.
“But the needs are growing.”