Perth Poetry Club and WA Poets Inc present
WOMAN SCREAM 2016
Saturday 5th March
This March 2016, more than forty countries will add their voices to the worldwide chain of events at the Sixth Woman Scream International Poetry Festival (Woman Scream 2016) organized by Women Poets International Movement. The initiative aims to commemorate the role of women in society, and to deliver messages of respect, self-esteem and no violence against women, through poetry and cultural activities.
Nigeria's ban on female genital mutilation (FGM) is a big step towards its total abolition. Women and girls from around 30 countries have undergone the practice. Unfortunately, FGM is not the only ancient practice and law of abuse out there. Many other ancient forms of abuse and denigration against women still exist (e.g. ablation, stoning, rape, acid attacks). Ancient beliefs plagued with fanaticism, restrict women’s freedom in many countries worldwide. That is why Woman Scream 2016 will be a plea, a prayer for the elimination of these practices.
Woman Scream 2016 will adopt the theme "Desert Flowers", a special dedication to the many women who have faced the horrible and unjust reality of these brutal barbarities and specially pay tribute to the Iranian Soraya Manutchehri, killed by stoning in 1986, for being an "inconvenient wife". She was framed by her husband with the support of other powerful men of her village, so he could marry a younger woman, a practice that has taken away many innocent lives. Soraya was judged and falsely found guilty of adultery. Her own family despised her, and her father, husband, and even her children were urged to throw the first stones at her, while buried on a sand grave. Her story was captured in the film "The Stoning of Soraya M." a drama adapted from French journalist Freidoune Sahebjam's book La Femme Lapidée.
Perth Poetry Club, in conjunction with West Australian Poets Inc., is again hosting the Perth contribution to Woman Scream 2016 on Saturday 5th March (the Saturday before International Women’s Day) at The Moon Café, 323 William Street, Northbridge.
The format will be open-mike, with poets limited to 3-5 minutes maximum, depending upon numbers. We expect poets to keep to theme, rehearse their poems and any pre-amble, and encourage poets to register for open-mike prior to the event by emailing Kate Arnautovic ( katearnautovic@yahoo.com.au ) or Elio Novello ( perthpoetryclub@gmail.com ). Please supply your name, title of poems, and expected performance duration (for planning and record keeping by international organisers).
Looking forward to your support and participation.