Combating violence against women through art

Humour and satire have great potential to bring visibility to and foster critical thinking on different social issues. In this regard, cartoons are an important element in contemporary social activism and a communication tool that can spread key messages across. We have seen artists use cartoons as an instrument for revealing injustice, discrimination, violence and suffering in different times for different reasons - starting from Picasso in the 1900s in Europe to Kais Al-Hilali in the 2000s in Africa. Even in Bangladesh, cartoons have always been a powerful tool to reach out to civilians and gain their support during socio-political movements, be it the democratic movement in the 1990s or the recent student protests for road safety.

Keeping that in mind, ActionAid Bangladesh (AAB), in collaboration with Unmad, has organised a cartoon exhibition titled, FemiToon, at Drik Gallery. The goal of the event is to connect young people with the issue of violence against women and girls through visual representation.

The exhibition showcases artworks of young cartoonists from all over Bangladesh that speak about the frustration regarding the current state of violence against women. The cartoons in the exhibition focus on different types of violence against women, including sexual and reproductive rights violation, child marriage, dowry, rape, unpaid care work, acid attacks and a plethora of others. The cartoons will further be exhibited beyond the capital, in Cox's Bazar and AAB's Local Rights Programs areas all over Bangladesh. AAB believes that this initiative will work as a stepping stone to start a dialogue on ending violence against women and will continue to speak to the audience of this generation to the next. The exhibition, which took off on November 26, concludes today.