Circles within Circles: Transnational Perspectives on Youth-led Approaches to Addressing Gender-Based Violence, brought together 75 girls and young women with researchers, policy makers, and representatives of national and international NGOs from Canada, South Africa, Kenya, Sweden and Russia. The aim of the intergenerational, international gathering was for Indigenous and non-Indigenous girls and young women to engage with each other, share knowledge and practices, network, and learn from each other about participatory visual and other arts-based approaches to address gender-based violence.
The event ran from July 8th-11th, and was held in Montebello, Quebec. It included presentations by girls and young women on what they are already doing in communities to address gender-based violence, as well as arts-based workshops, an international stakeholder forum, and an international exhibition, Speaking Back, made up of images from seven countries.
The event was made possible through Prof. Mitchell’s Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation project and funded by the Trudeau Foundation, SSHRC and IDRC. A key feature of the event was the drafting of a girlfesto -a manifesto written by girls and for girls- at the closing session. The Girlfesto is intended to be presented to various governments and policy-makers. Many national and international NGOs at the gathering made a commitment to taking the Girlfesto forward to their various constituencies.
Video of the event: Circles Within Circles, June 8 – 11, 2019. McGill University, Faculty of Education
CWC Handbook
CWC handbook was produced out of this conference and serves as a guide for others wishing to used Art-making to Address Gender-based Violence.
Access the document here:
Recommended citation: Vanner, C., Ezcura Lucotti, M., Khan, F., Lamb, P., Mitchell, C., Nyariro, M., Raissadat, H. & Sadati, H. (2019). Creating Circles: A Handbook on Art-making with Young People to Address Gender-based Violence. Montreal: Participatory Cultures Lab, McGill University.