The European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said they invested in the film – “Deafening Silence”, because Sexual and Gender -Based Violence (SGBV) was under- reported in Nigeria.
The EU and UNDP also said they wanted to leverage the power of arts to combat SGBV in Nigeria.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Deafening Silence, a film directed by Biodun Stephen, premiered in Lagos on Wednesday night.
Deafening Silence, produced by the UNDP within the framework of the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative, aligns strongly with Nigeria’s gender priorities as well as the EU’s and UN’s Gender Action Plans.
The film leveraged the power of storytelling to explore themes of Gender Equality, Women’s Empowerment, and SGBV in Nigeria.
Speaking at the premiere of ‘Deafening Silence’, a feature film on the theme of SGBV,
EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Samuela Isopi said that SGBV was under reported in Nigeria.
Isopi, who was represented by Ruben Alba Aguilera, Head of the Governance, Gender Human Rights and Migration Section at the EU Delegation, said they considered the potency of art as a driver of social transformation in investing in the flick.
“SGBV is not only a Nigerian problem but a global issue requiring collective efforts and approach to solve it. It is not optimally reported in Nigeria.”
With one in every three women globally having experienced physical, sexual or any other form of violence in their lifetime, the EU ambassador stressed the need for continued advocacy on the menace.
This, she said, was to inspire action to combat it and promote gender equality and women and girls’ empowerment.
“Through initiatives like Deafening Silence, we aim to spark meaningful conversations and inspire tangible action toward gender equality.”
According to Isopi, the movie will contribute to broader interventions around gender-based violence, connecting with rights holders and bearers, and opening up otherwise complex and difficult perspectives.
“We hope that the movie will contribute to moving the needle on these susceptible topics, and trust that it will galvanise action and be a natural or intuitive way of further engaging with this discourse,” she said.
Reaffirming the EU’s commitment to combatting SGBV, Isopi said the power of storytelling showcased in Deafening Silence would amplify the voices of survivors and advocates, and drive momentum for change.
“The power of art lies in its ability to evoke empathy and provoke introspection.
“It provides a platform for marginalised voices to be heard and validated.”
NAN reports that the movie, produced by Emem Isong Misodi, starred popular Nollywood actors including Toni Tones, Kate Henshaw, Femi Jacobs, Daniel Etim Effiong, Chidi Mokeme, Bimbo Akintola, Debby Felix and Ekamma Etim-Inyang.
The movie premiere was attended by Desmond Elliot, a Lagos State Assembly Lawmaker and Actor; Mr Steve Ayorinde, a former Commissioner for Information in Lagos state; Ghanaian Actor, Majid Michel; BB Naija winner and influencer, Uti Nwachukwu among other top actors and actresses.
Deafening Silence will be in cinemas across the country from June 7.(NAN)