Seven courageous women from seven countries around the world worked against all form violence and corruption towards women. Throughout the entire period of their campaign, they maintained peace. Instead of being stopped by the intolerable torture, inadvertence and discrimination, they fearlessly carried their struggle. Seven is a documentary play about these courageous women.
Based on interviews of seven female activists, Seven was staged on Monday, March 10 at the Chhayanaut Auditorium. Ambassadors and high commissioner of five countries along with two representatives of the UN organisation in Dhaka, took part in the play representing the seven women. Highlighting the importance and the urgency of addressing the violation of women’s rights, the play is assembled based on seven women’s struggle. The women whose stories were presented are from Nigeria, Cambodia, Guatemala, Northern Ireland, Afghanistan, Russia and Pakistan. The play unfolds with dialogue among the seven participants onstage and the rest of the performance was read out of their biographies. Swedish playwright and producer Hedda Krausz Sjogren developed the idea of staging the play with the help of the National Touring Theatre and the Swedish Institute.
Seven tells the stories of Hafsat Abiola from Nigeria who started advocacy for human rights and democracy following the murder of her activist parents. Mu Sochua of Combodia was co-nominated in 2005 for the Nobel Peace Prize for her work against sex trafficking of women in Cambodia and neighboring Thailand. Annabella de Leon fought against corruption and for the rights of the poor, particularly women and indigenous peoples in Guatemala. Inez McCormack played a critical role in the 1998 Good Friday Peace Accords and continues to advocate for equal rights and fair labor practices for women and minorities in Northern Ireland. Farida Azizi fought against the marginalisation of women under Taliban rule in Afghanistan. Marina Pisklakova-Parker founded the first hotline for victims of domestic violence that provide crisis and counseling services for Russian women. Mukhtar Mai of Pakistan, comparatively more known to people by headlines across the world, was gang raped by four men and she brought her rapists to justice. She also built schools to improve the living condition of women.
The play has been performed all over the world since 2007 and in different places, the characters of the play have been brought to life by different individuals who are involved in significant fields such as politics, mass-media and social works. Seven characters of the play staged in Dhaka were enacted by Hanne Fugl Eskjaer, Ambassador of Denmark, Anneli Lindahl Kenny, Ambassador of Sweden, Merete Lundemo, Ambassador of Norway, Christine Hunter, country representative of UN Women Bnagladesh, Argentinga Matavel Piccin, Representative of UNFPA Bangladesh, Heather Cruden, High Commisssioner of Canada and Wanja Campos da Nobrega Ambassador of Brazil.
A panel discussion was held after the staging, with the participation of Matiur Rahman, the editor of Prothom Alo, Sara Hossain, the executive director of Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust, Najma Akter, the president of United Garments Workers Association and Ejaj Ahmed, president of Bangladesh Youth Leadership Center. The discussion was conducted by Farah Kabir, country director of ActionAid.