On 5 March 2022 BWC once again hosted the city’s largest annual International Women’s Day celebrations in partnership with Brighton Dome and Brighton Museum. The event was free and inclusive, with the aim of celebrating, inspiring and informing women, as well as raising awareness of BWC. Just under nine hundred people attended the event, generating an especially exciting atmosphere after lockdown had cancelled the previous year’s in-person celebrations.
From Bollywood dancing to comedy writing, the day was packed with a specially curated programme of workshops, inspiring speakers, activists and innovators, causes and campaigns. Highlights of the day included but were by no means limited to; Aneesa Chaundry’s ‘Sing Your Heart Out’ workshop; The Free the Nipple Q&A with the Sassy Show; AFLO. The poet’s ‘Empowerment Through Poetry’ workshop; and the panel discussion.
The theme of the day was women’s safety, particularly relevant due to the visible rise of violence against women that was witnessed and experienced over lockdown. With this in mind, this year’s panel discussion honed in on the theme of women’s safety and in particular how our communities can work together to stop male violence.
Director of BWC Lisa Dando said: “We’re delighted to have been able to host IWD in person this year after the pandemic affected 2021 event. IWD is an event that’s grown in popularity over the years as a day of celebration, recognition of women’s accomplishments and the successes that have been achieved in terms of gender equality.
“But after the increases in violence against women that we’ve seen during the last 18 months of lockdown, it’s also about reminding people that there is still a long way to go.”
The panel was chaired by BWC’s Director, Lisa Dando. She discussed how BWC are committed to keeping the conversation on gender-based violence in the spotlight and that their priority has always been to work to protect and increase the safety of women and girls. Accompanying Lisa on the main stage of the Concert Hall were panellists Katy Bourne (Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner), Jay Breslaw, (CEO of Survivors Network), Vanessa Crawford (Founder and Project Manager of The Black and Minority Ethnic Young People’s Project) and Jess Leigh (Women’s Rights activist and Our Streets Now campaigner).
Amongst the talks and workshops, was a variety of entertainment for all of the family throughout the day. BWC’s Toybox nursery staff came armed with glitter and badge makers, and an accompanying face painter, allowing mums to peruse while their little ones played.
The Market Place was buzzing with information stalls showcasing the amazing work of women’s charities and organisations in and around Brighton. It was a great opportunity to network and educate about the variety of services available across the city. If you were keen to keep learning beyond the event, The Feminist Bookshop had its very own pop-up shop with an extensive range of feminist literature for all ages.
The day was truly inspiring, with so many powerful women in one place who are each pioneering toward change in their own ways. Everyone who attended left the event feeling fired up, proud to be a woman in Brighton and already counting down to 2023’s International Women’s Day celebrations!
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