Feminism festival goes virtual on Human Rights Day

WOMEN will be urged to “unmute” themselves on International Human Rights Day on December 10, with the first of a serious of webinars from Clare Women’s Network.

The network is to move its popular Festival of FeminismS, Silence + Voice event online in response to restrictions around the pandemic. Organisers have said they hope to engage the public and ignite conversations to create an inclusive feminist movement in Ireland.

The event, which will run from 2.30-5.30pm next Thursday, will see influential feminists from across Ireland, speaking up and speaking out about their lived experiences, personally and professionally.

“Clare Women’s Network are excited to launch this series on International Human Rights Day, which is also the last day of the International 16 Day campaign to raise awareness of Gender Based Violence, a very significant day and a hugely important campaign for women universally,” said Elaine D’Alton, Project Coordinator of the Clare Women’s Network. “The panel will discuss issues pertaining to feminism in Ireland, gender identity, human rights, gender based violence and racism. The panel will also explore how our past and current experiences create opportunities for an inclusive movement of women into the future.”

The line-up of high profile speakers includes Dr Ebun Joseph, Dr Phil Mullen, Carine Mambou, Jennifer Awoh, Salome Mbugua, Nompumelelo Mnyandu, Sharon Murphy and Clare native Victoria Olukitibi.

Author, lecturer and race relations expert, Dr Ebun Joseph, urged women to “unsilenced” and “unmute” themselves.

“Stories are powerful tools that can unsilence women,” she observed. “When women share their stories of abuse, trauma and injustice, it’s not an invitation to question the validity of their experiences. It’s a scary but courageous move to step out of the boundaries created for them to be in the world as people in certain ways. She’s ‘too loud’, ‘too angry’, ‘too bitter’, ‘too promiscuous’, ‘too drunk’ are silencing mechanisms that blame women for their abuse. Unsilencing of women is a human right. Stop the abuse. Unmute yourself. If you see it, name it. Save a sister!”

Head of Operations and Strategy with AkiDwA, the African Women’s Network and Commissioner for Human Rights and Equality, Salome Mbugua, said the webinar would highlight how women can contribute to policy affecting them.

“Quite often women are left out even in discussions and meetings that are meant to shape policies in areas that affect their lives, as mothers and primary carers of their family they have first-hand experience of dealing with and handling issues, in particular with their daily experience of racism and discrimination, black women visibility and voices are taken for granted and are completed ignored,” she said. “This conference offers a platform for expression and opportunity to amplify the hidden faces, ambitions and voices of these people.”

Others participating include Ennis woman Victoria Olukitibi from Ennis and recent graduate of the University of Limerick, who holds an MA in Politics; and singer-songwriter Sharon Murphy from Galway whose work looks at issues including her identity as a black Irish bisexual woman.

The webinar is free to attend but advance registration is required via Eventbrite (search Silence + Voice) Irish Sign Language Interpreters will be present.