Via Mongolian National News Agency
August 22, 2024
Kijini Primary School students learn to float, swim and perform rescues in the Indian Ocean off of Muyuni, Zanzibar, 2016
Ulaanbaatar, August 22, 2024 /MONTSAME/. The Opening Ceremony of the “Resilience - Stories of Women Inspiring Change” Special Exhibition was held at the Lkham Gallery, Ulaanbaatar City, Mongolia, on August 21, 2024.
The World Press Photo Foundation and the Kingdom of the Netherlands present a selection of stories, awarded in the World Press Photo Contests from 2000 to 2021, that highlight the resilience and challenges of women, girls, and communities around the world.
This exhibition promotes women’s rights, gender equality, and justice. Multiple voices, documented by 17 photographers of 13 different nationalities, offer insights into issues, including sexism, gender-based violence, reproductive rights, and access to equal opportunities. The selection of stories explores how women and gender issues have evolved in the 21st century and how photojournalism has developed in the ways of portraying them. The photographs show the power of visual storytelling to create mutual understanding and to influence or change our views.
At the Opening Ceremony, Cultural and Public Diplomacy Counsellor of the Netherlands to Mongolia Ingrid de Beer noted, “We are grateful to present the Resilience Photo Exhibition in cooperation with the Dutch Foundation World Press Photo and Lkham Gallery of Mongolia. The exceptional selection of photographs illustrates women and girls from all over the world—women and girls who face difficult challenges, even violence. Yet, instead of focusing on their challenges, these images highlight their personality, strength, and resilience. The women in Ulaanbaatar that I met today demonstrated their determination and perseverance to create change. I hope you enjoy the Resilience Photo Exhibition and that it serves as an inspiration to further our collective efforts toward a gender-equal society.”
Delgermaa Byambasuren, Honorary Consul of the Netherlands in Mongolia, said, “I'm delighted to welcome the World Press Photo exhibition to Mongolia for the first time. The "Resilience" exhibition features photographs by 17 photographers from 13 countries, highlighting women's rights, gender equality, and the evolution of women's issues in the 21st century. We are deeply grateful to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands and the World Press Photo Foundation for their commitment to women's rights. We also extend our thanks to Lkham Gallery and our other partners for their meticulous work in making this exhibition a reality.”
Gender equality and justice are fundamental human rights critical in supporting cohesive societies. Yet, women around the world face deeply entrenched inequality and remain underrepresented in political and economic roles. In 2021, women represented just 26.1% of some 35,500 parliament seats, only 22.6% of over 3,400 ministers, and 27% of all managerial positions. Violence against women prevails as a serious global health and protection issue. An estimated one in three women will experience physical or sexual abuse in her lifetime.
The gender imbalance is also evident in photojournalism. Data collected by Women Photograph in 2020 shows that an average of just 20% of lead photographs published by eight of the world’s most widely read newspapers were taken by women. The number of female entrants to the World Press Photo Contest has increased over the past five years from 15% to 20% in 2022. This data underlines the need for us to continue working on reducing gender injustice. We need women's perspectives to contribute to a diverse and balanced representation of the world.
The “Resilience - Stories of Women Inspiring Change” Exhibition will be open to the public until September 18, 2024, at the Lkham Gallery in Ulaanbaatar.
A young woman learns to float, in the Indian Ocean, off Nungwi, Zanzibar, on 24 November 2016Anna Boyiazis
Traditionally, girls in the Zanzibar Archipelago are discouraged from learning how to swim, largely due to the absence of modest swimwear. In northern Zanzibar, the Panje Project teaches local women and girls swimming skills in an effort to reduce high rates of drowning. Full-length swimsuits are provided. In addition to challenging a patriarchal system, the project has created a sustainable cycle by empowering students to teach other
