An international conference on violence, honor, and revolution towards gender equality took place in Örebro University on April 26-27. The conference focused on human rights issues related to violence against women, including honor crimes and harmful practices. It was attended by 175 delegates from over 15 countries. The conference featured performances, speeches, and a film on topics of gender, honor, and violence. It concluded with a panel discussion on revolution and violence.

1. This publication has been produced with the financial support of the Daphne Programme of the
European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of Folkuniversitetet
and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Commission.
Department for International Cooperation
Folkuniversitetet, Uppsala
Address: Bergsbrunnagatan 1
75323 Uppsala, Sweden
Phone: 018-68 00 36
Email: yevgeniya.averhed@folkuniversitetet.se
PRESS RELEASE
28.04.16
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE “VIOLENCE, HONOUR AND REVOLUTION: TOWARDS ALTERNATIVE
GENDER EQUALITY FUTURES” TOOK PLACE IN ÖREBRO UNIVERSITY ON 26TH
-27TH
OF APRIL
The conference lasted for 2 days and focused on human rights issues related to different forms of
violence against women, including honor crimes and harmful practices. Guests of honour were Dr
Nawal El Saadawi and Buthina Canaan Khoury. 175 people counting the delegates from more than
15 countries attended the event.
The first day set the scene for the conference issues,
comprising the performances from Anne Van Nistelrooij
(European Commission Directorate), who presented
european strategies and work with violence prevention; Maria
Hagberg (writer and activist), who spoke on gender and
honour based on true stories; Dr Jeff Hearn (Örebro
University), telling about violence against men, as well as the
men’s perspective in violence against women; and, at last, Dr
Nawal El Saadawi, giving a speech on violence in the name of
honour.
The second day was dedicated mostly and specifically to the results
of the “FATIMA”-project”, that was the main cause of the event.
After Sofia Strid (Örebro University) made an introduction to the
day, portraying the image of the revolutionary violence and
alternative gender equality futures, Yevgeniya Averhed
(Folkuniversitetet), the “FATIMA”-project manager, acquainted the
audience with the project. Then the project partners from Portugal,
Greece, and UK presented the path of the project in their countries,
followed by the external evaluator Anneli Häyren (Uppsala University) presenting the effects of the
project.
In order to liase both days of the conference, a panel discussion “Revolution and violence” took place,
moderated by Ali Rashidi (Folkuniversitetet). The panelists were Dr. Nawal El Saadawi, Anne Van
Nistelrooij, Dr Hannana Siddiqui (The Angelou Centre, UK), and Runa Baianstovu (Örebro University).
One of the most memorable point of the conference agenda was a film “Maria’s Grotto”, created and
presented by Buthina Canaan Khoury (Majd Production Company).

2. This publication has been produced with the financial support of the Daphne Programme of the
European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of Folkuniversitetet
and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Commission.
Dr Hannana Siddiqui (Women Against Fundamentalism and End Violence Against Women Coalition)
concluded the conference, focusing on feminist futures.
“This project is the result of our 2 year work. We truly put our hearts into it and we hope the project
becomes a best practice for working with HRV. We are endlessly grateful to all of the project partners,
conference speakers, and all those, who came to see our work on these 2 special for us days”, - says
Yevgeniya Averhed, the project manager of FATIMA and deputy director of the Department for
International Cooperation of Folkuniversitetet.
The conference took place within the project “Preventing Honour-Related Violence by Education and
Dialogue through Immigrant NGOs ('FATIMA')” funded by the DAPHNE programme of the European
Commission. The goal of the project was preventing violence linked to harmful practices (e.g. female
genital mutilation, forced or early marriage or forced sexual relationships, honour crimes) committed
against women, young people and children through education and awareness rising.
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Contact: Yevgeniya Averhed
Phone: +46 18 68 00 36, email: yevgeniya.averhed@folkuniversitetet.se
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