Call for Submissions: Stop Violence Against Women

By: Stop Violence Against Women
Submitted: 10/14/2008

Amnesty International’s Stop Violence Against Women Campaign is just one of the inspiring initiatives in a global effort by individuals and organizations working to make the world a safe place for women. In this unprecedented international effort, victories are being made to empower survivors, push governments to act and change social attitudes towards violence against women.

Join with Amnesty’s Northern California volunteers to create a traveling art exhibition to educate the public about violence against women and inspire them to action in support of the Amnesty-backed International Violence Against Women Act. We’re reaching out to artists, activists and organizations throughout Northern California that are working to address violence against women. We are accepting submissions that expose both the stories of violence and also the victories in overcoming violence. Download an application form on the bottom of our profile page, or send us a private message to request one by email.
About the EventThe traveling art exhibition will launch in San Francisco on Sunday March 8 on International Women’s Day and travel throughout Northern California through June. Your work could be selected to be part of this positive art event that will engage the community in dialogue and provide opportunities for people to take important action. Submissions should have a visual component and a text accompaniment. All art forms are encouraged including photography, fine art, sculpture and multimedia. Some pieces included in the traveling segment of the exhibition may be subject to consideration based on capacity to transport and install artwork. The exhibition will travel to six cities throughout Northern California including: San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Palo Alto, Davis and Merced.
Submission TopicsThe exhibition aims to showcase and educate people on the multiple forms of violence against women. We seek to show stories of struggle and also stories of empowerment and victory. Forms of violence represented might include:
o Domestic abuse
o Rape
o Internalized violence such as body image and beauty standards
o Sex trafficking and/or sex slavery
o Female Genital Mutilation
o Honor killings
o War/occupation
o Violence against girl children
o Violence against Native America/Alaskan Native
o Femicides in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico
o Violence against lesbians, gender queers and trans people
o Violence against women in prison

Stories of victories might include:
o Rehabilitation art
o Creative grassroots campaigns
o Legislative victories
o Personal stories of empowerment
About the Stop Violence Against Women Campaign In 2004, Amnesty International launched its global Stop Violence Against Women Campaign to help break the silence around this scandal, stop the violence, and create a world where women and girls are afforded their basic human rights. Across the globe, Amnesty International members have united to work towards making women's human rights a reality; the campaign is intended as a contribution to the efforts of the women's rights movements around the world. With this campaign, Amnesty International will show that the right of women to be free from violence is integral to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. As long as violence against women continues, the promise to humanity of the Universal Declaration cannot be fulfilled.

One of the Stop Violence Against Women Campaign’s initiatives this year is supporting the International Violence Against Women Act, an unprecedented effort by the U.S. to address violence against women globally. It directs the U.S. government to create a comprehensive, 5-year strategy to reduce violence in 10-20 diverse countries identified as having severe levels of violence against women.About Amnesty InternationalAmnesty International’s purpose is to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied. It investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and helps transform societies to create a safer, more just world. It received the Nobel Peace Prize for its life-saving work.

With more than 2.2 million supporters, activists and volunteers in over 150 countries, and complete independence from government, corporate or national interests, Amnesty works to protect human rights worldwide. Its vision is of a world in which every person - regardless of race, religion, gender, or ethnicity - enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards. Learn more at www.amnestyusa.org.