During the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence,discover seven Equipop partner organizations committed to combating gender-based and sexual violence in West Africa. Cinema is a powerful source of inspiration. It is both a reflection of our society and a lever for change. It is the patriarchal view of society reproduced by cinema that inspires Azaratou Bance to seek change. Together with friends from the film industry, she founded Taafé Vision in 2017. Taafé Vision is a feminist association whose mission is to defend women's rights by creating films without stereotypes, addressing topics written by women for the entire community.
Taafé Vision is supported by a team of five staff members and 13 volunteers. It also benefits from the active support of over a hundred members who assist with projects and film shoots.
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"When we launch a call for film projects—regardless of the subject matter—the majority of the projects we receive always come back to the issue of gender-based violence, whether through personal experience or that of someone close to them. Every initiative, no matter how small, helps to shape a more equal and inclusive world." Azaratou Bance, founder of Taafé Vision
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Sharing stories among women Taafé Vision uses its films and debates to highlight the oppression exercised by patriarchal society, gender norms, social injunctions and roles imposed on women, and their social exclusion. The association develops tools and creates spaces conducive to free speech, from the creative phase to the distribution of the works. Collaborative work on scripts in single-sex groups is a strategic approach: the sessions offer women an opportunity for empowerment and sharing. They can thus exchange their life stories in a circle of trust. It is an opportunity for them to tell their stories, reveal themselves, understand each other, and find mutual support.
[vc_column width= »1/2″]Single-sex spaces as a tool for self-empowerment By offering spaces for discussion exclusively reserved for women, Taafé Vision creates a safe environment where everyone can express themselves freely without fear of judgment or discrimination, especially on socially or culturally sensitive topics (such as gender-based and sexual violence). Single-sex spaces can encourage their participation, thereby allowing for better representation and consideration of their voices. They can also help to challenge these same limiting social norms and help them understand and deconstruct sexist stereotypes and behaviors. Finally, single-sex spaces make it possible to highlight and address specific issues in greater depth. The perspectives and experiences of these women are then better taken into account.
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FOCUS ON SCREENINGS AND DISCUSSIONS
Film screenings and discussions are at the heart of Taafé Vision's work. These events aim to raise collective awareness and encourage constructive dialogue on key issues. They play a crucial role in sensitizing the public to the notion of violence normalized by society, as well as gender-based violence. The association organizes public screenings at festivals and universities, sparking public debate on the role of women in society and within their families.Equipop's sisterhood support Through the Feminists in Action project, Equipop supports Taafé Vision with several grants, notably for its "From Idea to Short Film" project and its internal operations. Structural funding is key to feminist organizations' development and sustainability. To be continued During the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence at the end of November 2023, Taafé Vision plans to organize the "16 Films – 1 Cause" Festival. The festival will screen one film per day, during the day and next to the market, to circumvent the limitations imposed on women in the evening (childcare, meal preparation, or even being forbidden to go out alone, etc.). Here too, only women will be invited.
