global action > films > snapshots of change
Snapshots of ChangePosted: 28 Nov 2005
Snapshots of Change is a groundbreaking series of short films made in 31 countries around the world to mark the 10th anniversary of the Beijing Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing +10).
Ten years ago the leaders of 189 countries who attended the Beijing Conference signed up to a landmark agreement, the Beijing "Platform for Action", committing themselves to women's rights, equality and empowerment - including the end of violence and discrimination against women, universal education for girls, and promoting more women in government, parliament and management positions. Ten years on, Snapshots of Change aims to show just how well they're delivering on those promises.
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| Windowcleaner in a film depicting Indian women working in non-traditional careers. Credit �TVE |
The 32 short documentaries and dramas in the series were produced by The Broadcasting for Change Network - a unique group of international broadcasters and producers founded in 1995, and committed to producing and airing programmes on women's rights. Members of the Network met at a conference organised in April 2005 by the Television Trust for the Environment (TVE) in London, where they discussed relevant themes and topics, and agreed the story ideas they would each contribute to the new Snapshots of Change project.
The outcome is a series of 32 x 5 minute programmes examining the status and condition of women around the world - joyful, sad, funny, shocking - made by filmmakers from 31 countries, including 10 new members in Bangladesh, China, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Russia, Sierra Leone, Trinidad & Tobago, Uzbekistan and Zimbabwe, creating a truly global broadcast series.
The series includes women working in non-traditional careers such as car mechanics in Nigeria, high-rise window cleaners in India, and the first female butcher in Jordan. The Philippines and Czech Republic films profile women who have fought for a voice and influence in political decision-making.
The powerful drama, "Life Promises", challenges the Zimbabwean government to live up to its commitment to provide health care to all its citizens and halt the country's increasing maternal and child mortality rates.
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| In rural Uzbekistan young brides are still often oppressed by their in-laws. Credit �TVE. |
After a lavish wedding ceremony and family rituals, young wives in rural Uzbekistan move into their husband�s family home. Here, the mother-in-law rules the roost, often treating them as domestic slaves, responsible for all the housework and work in the fields. �The Daughter-in-Law� explores why this cruel system still exists and what role men play in perpetuating it.
Other films in the series examine HIV/AIDS, education, and peace-keeping, and violence against women and how they relate to the experiences of women and girls. These films tie in with commitments from country leaders to end discrimination against women and ensure educational opportunities for women and girls, economic independence, participation in development processes and fundamental human rights.
For further information, see TVE�s website, or email .
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