Exhibition and tribute kicks off 16 Days of Activism Against GBV

Kicking off 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence and in tribute to the late gender-rights activist, humanitarian and academic Prof Anshu Padayachee, a Paint the Silence exhibition will open today at Suncoast CineCentre.

The exhibition inaugurates the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, a global campaign that kicks off tomorrow, coinciding with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and runs until December 10, International Human Rights Day.

This year's theme, “Every 10 Minutes, a Woman is Killed. #NoExcuse. UNiTE to End Violence against Women,” resonates with the ongoing mission of the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to cultivate safer, more just societies worldwide.

The Paint the Silence exhibition is a collective power of the arts to spotlight the suffering endured by countless individuals, as well as the resilience of the human spirit.

The exhibition was previewed at the Phansi Museum yesterday will officially open today with a virtual screening at 2.30pm at Suncoast CineCentre, hosted by the Nanda Soobben Arts Education Foundation.

Today's event will include tribute messages to Padayachee from various people including Dr Navi Pillay, the visual arts exhibition, poetry and music and a film screening. The theme is anti-child abuse, anti-GBV and anti-war.

Padayachee died in July last year after a battle with cancer. Her dissertation on domestic violence was used extensively as a source guide for the promulgation of the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act and the subsequent Domestic Violence Act.

Together with Judge Navi Pillay, they set up the first NGO for domestic violence in South Africa called the Advice Desk for the Abused.’

Soobben said the paintings will be showcased on the big screen today and thereafter physically exhibited at the KZNSA Art Gallery, Phansi Museum, Bat Centre, DUT Gallery, Country Bake Gallery and Beach Cafe in North Beach for 16 days.

Soobben said one of his paintings will be the backdrop to Pillay's keynote speech where she will relay an historical anecdote.

"Anshu and Navi went to the Chief Magistrate to get a Protection Order. The magistrate with his feet on his desk, scolded them to get out because there was no such thing as a Protection Order. These two ladies outsmarted the magistrate and got a peace order which protected the rights of women. The magistrate fell off his chair."

Soobben said shortly before her death, Padayachee said to him that 30 years of democracy was coming up and South Africa had the highest rate of GBV in the world.

"She asked me to do something using art to reflect the suffering caused by GBV. We are standing up against women and children being killed. It's not just domestic violence but violence against humanity," said Soobben.

Pillay said GBV is a silent crime and through the medium of art can be flushed out of hiding.

She said she together with Padayachee began their campaign against GBV in the mid 1980s.

"As part of her doctoral thesis, Anshu interviewed hundreds of women who were victims of domestic violence and learnt first hand of their suffering and lack of protection under the law. She did not stop caring for them after receiving her doctorate but decided to devote her life to taking action for the protection of the abused.

"I myself learnt from the many clients who consulted me for legal advice, that family violence was prevalent in every part of our society and across race or class lines. When Anshu and I set up the Advice Desk for the Abused, in 1986, we listened to many women who were victims of domestic violence. It was clear to us that what they wanted most was protection for themselves and their children and for their husbands and /or partners to stop the violence on them," she said.

Pillay added that the unacceptably high incidence of GBV in the country was familiar to them.

"The question each one of us is asking of ourselves is what can I do about it?"

"Anshu was never short of ideas. She began the initiative to set up a safehouse for women fleeing a violent home usually at night , with their children and with nowhere to go. The Advice Desk ran this shelter, the first and only one in Durban, for many years until funds dried up. We had begged for state help but none was forthcoming. Together, we wrote a little book as a guide to womens’ rights in violent situations.

"Anshu has left a noble legacy and without doubt, expects us to dedicate our actions towards ending the scourge of GBV," said Pillay.