For Women By Women (FWBW) - Turkey
SummaryFor Women By Women (FWBW) aims to bring
female photographers together to help create change in the current status of
women in Turkey and stop violence against people, especially towards women. FWBW
is an independent voluntary group of professional and amateur female
photographers who came together in response to some incidents that took place in
Istanbul during the March 2005 International Women's Day celebrations. The
women's photographs are exhibited during various events in Turkey and globally -
as well as online. The artists' goal is to create awareness about the issue of
violence against women and to foster positive change in the lives of women at
risk. The initiative aims also to help provide funding for women's organisations
and shelters.
Main Communication StrategiesFWBW is a group of
women drawing on the medium of photography - shared through in-person exhibits
and the use of information and communication technologies (ICTS) - to create
awareness and help empower women against any kind of violence. FWBW welcomes all
female photographers who are interested in its cause; as of this writing, the
group numbers 200 and continues to grow. Turkish women photographers, not only
those living in Turkey but also residing outside of Turkey (from Japan to the
United States), have contributed to this project. The artists use very different
styles, interpretations, and techniques - and this diversity is
celebrated.
In-person events are a central means of sharing the women's
photographs and fostering discussion about violence against women. Specifically,
the project commenced in Istanbul in May 2005 with the exhibition and auction of
photographs donated by 111 professional and amateur female photographers. The
proceeds of this auction were donated to a women's shelter that offers human
resources such as psychologists and health specialists. After the auctioning
event, FWBW photographs traveled around Turkey (Istanbul, Diyarbakir, Düzce,
Çanakkale) for exhibition; in November 2005 FWBW shared their photographs at the
'Women and Folk Songs' concert co-organised by the United Nations' Population
Fund (part of the Stop Violence Against Women National Campaign of the General
Directorate of Women Status of the Turkish Republic Prime Ministry). These
events have since gone global; for example, in March 2006 exhibitions are
scheduled to take place in London and Washington DC (USA). Along with these
auctioning events and exhibitions, FWBW carries out press campaigns in an effort
to spur added discussion about violence against women.
FWBW also uses
ICTs as a tool. For instance, to help draw participants, FWBW has established a
database of contact information for its group members. FWBW also created an
online networking group for the photographers to exchange ideas and develop new
projects. FWBW photographs are available for purchase online (
click here to view the photos), which is part of a continuing
effort to help raise funds for shelters that provide supportive services for
victims of domestic and sexual abuse.
Development
IssuesViolence against Women
Key PointsFrom the FWBW page on the art4development.net website: "According
to recent studies...in Turkey...86.1% of the victims of domestic violence are
women. 58% of women in east and south-east Anatolia reported having experienced
a physical assault and 23% of high and middle income women had been assaulted or
beaten by their husbands in 1998. 39.2% of women agree that a husband is
justified in beating his wife; 63% of young women between the ages of 15 and 19
agree that beating can be justified...."
FWBW participants say, "we
believe that this group, with its unique approach and diverse backgrounds, is
not only helping the cause but also making itself, each participant, grow
stronger." The IFSAK (Istanbul Amateur Photographers and Cinematographers
Association) granted FWBW the 2005 Annual Photography Award.
For more
information, contact:Bikem Ekberzade
For Women By Women
bikem@thevirtualstory.cominfo@kadinlaricin.orgFWBW
website