Press releases

MINSK, 2 November (BelTA) – The project Seven, a documentary play about problems of gender-based violence and violation of women’s rights, was presented at the Yanka Kupala National Academic Theater of Belarus on 2 November, BelTA has learned.

The play is based on personal interviews with seven women from different countries. The words pronounced from the stage represent a direct message to the audience. The roles are performed by non-professional actors. Partaking in the project in Minsk were Belarus President's aide Kirill Rudy, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alena Kupchyna, Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection Alexander Rumak, Ambassador of Sweden to Belarus Martin Oberg, representatives of the Health Ministry, the Interior Ministry, and the Education Ministry.

“We have a wonderful troupe. It comprises representatives of almost all the ministries, agencies that are combating domestic violence and violence against women in Belarus jointly with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA),” Deputy Representative of the UNFPA in Belarus Elena Kasko noted. She stressed that Belarus takes concrete steps to fight these problems. For example, a draft law on domestic violence is currently under consideration.

“There are many public associations that cooperate with government agencies and provide assistance to victims of domestic violence. At present, we are focused on the development of mechanisms of cross-sectoral cooperation,” Elena Kasko noted.

It is expected that the play will be performed four times, in Minsk and regional capitals this year and in early 2016. Each time the troupe will comprise new actors, including famous Belarusian athletes and cultural workers.

The play Seven was first staged in New York in 2008. Since then, it has been performed in different countries with the participation of some 600 public figures – government officials, MPs, representatives of public associations. Belarus is the 28th country to stage the play. The play Seven aims to promote public discussion about violence against women. The idea of the play belongs to Sweden-based playwright and producer Hedda Krausz Sjogren. The project is implemented with the support of the Swedish Institute and the National Touring Theater of Sweden.