On 2 November Seven on Tour co-arranged a reading of the play Seven at the Yanka Kupala Theater in Minsk. Among the readers were Deputy Foreign Minister Alena Kuptjina, Deputy Minister of Social Affairs Aleksandr Rumak and Ambassador Martin Åberg. The performance represented the launch of the project Seven in Belarus, with public readings, seminars, etc. in the coming months. The audience was therefore particularly invited politicians, officials, religious leaders and civil society representatives. Among the guests was noticed among others Deputy Prime Minister Natalia Kotjanova, several Members of Parliament and representatives of the Supreme Court and the prosecution service.

The launch has received wide coverage in the Belarusian media. ‘I am delighted to launch this project on women’s rights, together with UNFPA and the Belarusian government representatives. Attendance from relevant ministries is impressive, ‘said Ambassador Martin Åberg after the reading.

Seven carried out in Belarus with the support of the Swedish Institute and in cooperation with UNFPA. The concept Seven on Tour is presented by Hedda Krausz Sjögren together with the National Touring Theatre and the Swedish Institute. The show was directed by Ivan Pinigin.

ENSEMBLE
Alena Kuptjina, Deputy Ministers of Foregin Affairs
Aleksandr Rumak, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Protection
Martin Åberg, Swedish Ambassador in Belarus
Yelena Bogdan, Director of the board of the organization of care at the Ministry of Health
Oleg Karazej, Head of the Crime prevention unit at the Ministry of Interior
Natalia Psjtjennitjnaja, Head of the Youth Affairs at the Ministry of Education
Kirill Rudij, Adviser to the President on economic issues

The reading was followed by a workshop by Seven on Tour together with the local partner UNFPA on how to use theatre, and in this case Seven, as a catalyzer in advocacy campaigns.

The project in Belarus is a cooperation between UNFPA, the Embassy of Sweden and Hedda Produktion and funded by the Swedish Institute.

UNFPA Belarus
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) began working in Belarus in 1994. Each Fund’s initiative serves the global goal of promoting the right of every woman, man and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunities. The Fund builds on the national priorities and works in close cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Belarus, UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, international and national experts.

UNFPA promotes the idea of equal rights and opportunities for men and women. In particular, the Fund implements initiatives aiming to counteract gender-based violence and domestic violence as one of its most widespread varieties through the establishment of the system of inter-agency mechanisms, training stakeholders (law enforcement officers, social workers, health care professionals, NGOs, faith-based organizations) on addressing domestic violence.

Every year UNFPA coordinates the joint awareness raising campaign on the prevention of domestic violence for men, women and youth, which is supported by the partners from UN agencies, NGOs and ministries.

Learn more about the organization on there website!

Contact information

UNFPA Belarus
Elena Kasko
kasko@unfpa.org

Seven on Tour
Ida Granqvist
ida.helena.granqvist@gmail.com