Pablo Picasso said that art is not truth but it allows us to realize the truth.
Dignity Cambodia is an ongoing creative project using art as a vehicle to reveal truth, raise awareness and create new perspectives on the topic of gender within the mindsets of people. In collaboration with the local human rights organization NGO-CEDAW, artists are encouraged to create projects which aim to bring awareness about the difficulties many Cambodian survivors endure and the Cambodian laws which fail to protect them from harm.

2015 The Dignity Project started in 2015 with its first series by German artist Mona Simon. Silk banners depicted encouraging portraits of survivors of violence accompanied by stories of their experiences and a reference to the gaps in the existing laws on domestic violence, which aren’t giving them enough protection. The aim was not to depict the participating woman as victims, but to create an image of them and for them in a dignified, strong and beautiful way, so that these reflections might help them and others to acknowledge their truth as survivors. Art has the impact to inspire new ways of thinking.

To highlight the strength of Cambodian women and girls and emphasize the need to hold abusers accountable for the harm that they create, NGO-CEDAW encouraged other survivors of gender-based violence to share their experiences.

The art was exhibited in Phnom Penh and later in Siem Reap. The exhibition portrayed the strength and dignity of survivors, contrasting with society’s usual attitude of blaming women for the violence which they experience.

NGO-CEDAW issued advocacy statements and shared the art with government officials. Specifically, NGO-CEDAW proposed fundamental changes to the law on domestic violence and the criminal code in Cambodia to stop the current practice by officials of asking women to remain in abusive relationships and refusing to punish abusers until women are severely injured or killed.

2016

NGO-CEDAW invited applications from Cambodian artists to continue the project. Over a period of months, the selected artists met with each other and NGO-CEDAW staff to develop their projects and exhibited them together during the annual 16 Days of Activism Campaign against gender violence in late November.

At the event, two films were screened, one an original documentary on transgender women who perform traditional Cambodian dances, and the other a poetic drama on the problems of rape and incest. The event also featured a dance performance showing women’s power to stand up to domestic violence. A sculptor presented her work in rural communities, where she helped schoolchildren learn about gender-based violence and create art that highlighted the experiences of women living in their own village.

Goals: The Dignity Project is part of NGO-CEDAW’s ongoing efforts to update the Cambodian law on domestic violence and establish more awareness and better protection for all people affected by gender-based violence. If you have questions, ideas or would like to contribute or collaborate, please contact NGO- CDAW: ngocedaw.pnh(@)gmail.com