“My body is my own” – UN Women and UNFPA launch art initiative with youth in Albania to promote bodily autonomy

UN Women and UNFPA in Albania have launched "My body is my own", a new art initiative which aims to raise awareness on bodily autonomy, gender equality, gender-based violence and discrimination.

The initiative aims to engage young creators and artists from all around Albania practicing photography and illustration, who will use their artworks to convey messages and help spark a conversation around this theme. In the first stage they will participate in workshops aiming at developing their professional skills and enhancing their knowledge on bodily autonomy, gender equality and gender-based violence and discrimination. They will use these skills to spread impactful messages and visually express the right and the power to make choices about your body, without fear of violence or having someone else decide for you.

The workshops will be conducted by professional photographer Anna Ehrenstein and prominent art lecturers and artists, Ardian Isufi and Harri Aleksi.

The artworks will be showcased in three exhibitions around Albania during the "16 Days Against Gender-Based Violence" campaign, running from 25 November to 10 December. The best three artworks from each category, photography and illustration, will be selected and awarded prizes by a jury of experts.

The initiative aims to expand on concepts around bodily autonomy and gender equality to make them more tangible for the broader society and to help break down harmful norms and stereotypes that continue to prevail.

“My body is my own” initiative is being organized as part of a UN Joint programme on ending violence against women and girls in Albania, supported by the Government of Sweden and implemented by UN Women, UNFPA and UNDP.