This seminar, at the Embassy of Brazil in London, shares the findings, insights and implications of a research project on Violence Against Women and Girls among Brazilians in London and Rio de Janeiro. In a global context of around 1 in 3 women experiencing gender-based violence, this research explored the nature of this neglected issue from a range of perspectives. Working collaboratively with a series of partners - People's Palace Projects, the Latin American Women’s Rights Service (LAWRS), Redes da Maré and CASA Latin American Theatre Festival - the research was conducted by Queen Mary University of London, King’s College London and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.

This inter-disciplinary project, funded by the Newton Fund and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) under the “Urban Transformations” research theme, documented the experiences of women survivors of VAWG through surveys, testimonial interviews and focus group discussions as well as using a range of artistic practices through verbatim theatre, film and audio-visual installation work to highlight the importance and impact of this phenomenon. It shows not only alarmingly high rates of incidence but also the deep-seated negative effects of VAWG on women’s well-being.

The seminar showcases this research through presentations from the researchers and the organisational partners as well as screening of excerpts from films of the two main artistic performances in London and Rio de Janeiro.

SEMINAR PROGRAMME
*Booking is essential via Eventbrite

Start 4pm

- Welcome and introduction: Embassy of Brazil representative with Paul Heritage (Director of People's Palace Projects and Professor of Drama and Performance in the School of English and Drama English & Drama Department at Queen Mary University of London) and Professor Cathy McIlwaine (Geography Department, King's College London)

4:10pm-5:10pm

- VAWG in London: launch of research report ‘We can’t fight in the dark’: Violence Against Women and Girls among Brazilian Women in London by Cathy McIlwaine
- Reflections on importance of research from Director of LAWRS, Lucila Granada with testimony from women beneficiaries of LAWRS services
- Screening of short film of London theatre piece (with introduction from Gael Le Cornec, CASA Latin American Theatre Festival)
- Q & A

5:10pm - 6: 10pm

- VAWG in Rio de Janeiro: key findings from Maré by Dr. Miriam Krenzinger ( Social Work Department at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro), Dr. Joana Garcia (Social Work Department at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro) and Dr. Rosana Morgado (Social Work Department at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro)
- Reflections on the importance of the research from Director of Redes da Maré, Dr. Eliana Sousa Silva
- Screening of short film of SCAR, Brazilian audio-visual installation directed by Bia Lessa (with introduction from Paul Heritage)
- Q & A

Summing up: Paul Heritage and Cathy McIlwaine

6: 15pm – 7: 30pm

Drinks Reception