To mark the 16 days of activism, the United Nations and the British Embassy in Brussels screened: ‘I am Belmaya’
In the patriarchal society of Nepal, where girls are taught to keep their mouths shut, Belmaya embarks on a transformational journey to reclaim her voice. Dismissed as ‘cow-dung brain’ by her schoolteacher, dominated by her husband and society, Belmaya, at 21, had given up hope of finding happiness. Through training in documentary filmmaking and telling her own and other women’s stories, her consciousness and confidence expand. Realising she can make choices, she stands up to her abusive husband and the power starts shifting into her hands.
The film was followed by a panel discussion with:
- Sue Carpenter, Director of ‘I am Belmaya’
- Martin Shearman, British Ambassador to Belgium
- Dagmar Schumacher, Director of the UN Women Brussels Office
- Moderated by Caroline Petit, Officer in Charge of UNRIC
The Q&A was followed by a reception.
The panellists will take questions from the audience on some of the themes from the film, such as gender equality, prevention of gender based violence, educating women and girls and women’s empowerment.
