ULAANBAATAR (GoGo Mongolia) - ‘Behind Closed Doors’ art instillation piece initiated by the Mongolian feminist advocacy group Women for Change, in collaboration with Beautiful Hearts Against Sexual Violence and supported by the Embassy of Canada displayed at Shangri-La Mall today.
Mongolian feminist advocacy group Women for Change, in collaboration with Beautiful Hearts Against Sexual Violence will take a novel approach to the nation’s growing domestic violence crisis, launching the provocative ‘Behind Closed Doors’ art instillation piece in Ulaanbaatar between the 17th and 30th of November. ‘Behind Closed Doors’ draws attention to changes to Mongolia’s domestic violence laws that do not go far enough to protect women and children.
‘Behind Closed Doors’ is timely and draws attention proposed changes to Mongolia’s domestic violence legislation. In December 2015 Mongolia’s parliament dominated by the Democratic Party created changes to criminal law that were to be implemented in 2017, however their loss in the 2016 election means this will not occur. Following the election of the Mongolian People’s Party, parliament has stated that they will not be implementing the law reform and have proposed their own changes.
With the local National Center Against Violence (NCAV) estimating that one in three Mongolian women has experienced domestic violence, ‘Behind Closed Doors’ aims to raise awareness of this critical issue and show how important law reform is. Furthermore, it aims to challenge the public to realize that domestic violence isn’t always a bloodied nose or a black eye. It also includes bullying, naming, shaming, controlling behavior, sexual, emotional and psychological violence. Most importantly, it is to urge parliament to pass the 5 Laws: Law Against Domestic Violence, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure Code, Law Enforcement Law and The Law on Court Decision
70 percent of all police call-outs relate to domestic violence, although few cases go to court and prosecution rates are low. In 2015, 88.1 percent of victims of reported cases of domestic violence were women.
As the public can be desensitized to data and statistics Women for Change and Beautiful Hearts Against Sexual Violence have chosen to use art to reinvigorate the conversation around domestic violence. ‘Behind Closed Doors’ is an interactive, sensory experience. The portable installation features a vibrating table to emulate the anxiety felt during emotional abuse. Headphones will contain voice actors repeating the threats and abuse that many women in Mongolia are exposed to daily.
Women for Change, and Beautiful Hearts Against Sexual Violence staff and volunteers will be on hand to debrief with participants about their feelings and share information about domestic violence, law reform and support services available in Mongolia. Volunteers are trained to debrief if trauma or retraumatisation occurs.
The ‘Behind Closed Doors’ art installation is supported by the Embassy of Canada.
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Canada to Mongolia Eelco (Ed) Jager attended the opening of art installation at the Shangri-La Mall today. He delivered opening remarks and highlighted:
"The campaign aims to raise awareness against domestic violence. Canada and Mongolia have shared concerns about family violence that disturbs well being of all people. Canada is strong supported of human rights. Specifically, Canada strongly protects the rights of members within the family from domestic violence. We took it very seriously at home. Government agencies work very closely together to try to prevent and eliminate all forms of domestic violence. Working with Beautiful Hearts and Women for Change, is just one of series of things we have been trying to do in assistance with Mongolia, respect the decision. We have funded and supported the NGOs, small projects for 20 years. We have also cooperate with Parliament and other member of parliament to try to bring positive change and legislative improvements that help to protect Mongolians.
This installation is a wonderful. It is a very createtive and concrete way of bringing the message home to people. I have experienced it myself and I can tell you that is impressive both in a negative way and a positive way. Postive, because I think it is so wonderful that we have this way of bringing the message across. Negative, in that the message so badly need to be made. I truly hope this will help to touch Mongolian society in change attitude towards domestic violence of Mongolia. I am pleased and proud of that Canada is taking part in this event".
The art installation ‘Behind Closed Doors’ will be on display at locations across Ulaanbaatar from 17th to 30th November. To find out more and daily locations please visit Women for Change’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/women4changemongolia/?fref=ts.
ULAANBAATAR (GoGo Mongolia) - ‘Behind Closed Doors’ art instillation piece initiated by the Mongolian feminist advocacy group Women for Change, in collaboration with Beautiful Hearts Against Sexual Violence and supported by the Embassy of Canada displayed at Shangri-La Mall today.
Mongolian feminist advocacy group Women for Change, in collaboration with Beautiful Hearts Against Sexual Violence will take a novel approach to the nation’s growing domestic violence crisis, launching the provocative ‘Behind Closed Doors’ art instillation piece in Ulaanbaatar between the 17th and 30th of November. ‘Behind Closed Doors’ draws attention to changes to Mongolia’s domestic violence laws that do not go far enough to protect women and children.
‘Behind Closed Doors’ is timely and draws attention proposed changes to Mongolia’s domestic violence legislation. In December 2015 Mongolia’s parliament dominated by the Democratic Party created changes to criminal law that were to be implemented in 2017, however their loss in the 2016 election means this will not occur. Following the election of the Mongolian People’s Party, parliament has stated that they will not be implementing the law reform and have proposed their own changes.
With the local National Center Against Violence (NCAV) estimating that one in three Mongolian women has experienced domestic violence, ‘Behind Closed Doors’ aims to raise awareness of this critical issue and show how important law reform is. Furthermore, it aims to challenge the public to realize that domestic violence isn’t always a bloodied nose or a black eye. It also includes bullying, naming, shaming, controlling behavior, sexual, emotional and psychological violence. Most importantly, it is to urge parliament to pass the 5 Laws: Law Against Domestic Violence, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure Code, Law Enforcement Law and The Law on Court Decision
70 percent of all police call-outs relate to domestic violence, although few cases go to court and prosecution rates are low. In 2015, 88.1 percent of victims of reported cases of domestic violence were women.
As the public can be desensitized to data and statistics Women for Change and Beautiful Hearts Against Sexual Violence have chosen to use art to reinvigorate the conversation around domestic violence. ‘Behind Closed Doors’ is an interactive, sensory experience. The portable installation features a vibrating table to emulate the anxiety felt during emotional abuse. Headphones will contain voice actors repeating the threats and abuse that many women in Mongolia are exposed to daily.
Women for Change, and Beautiful Hearts Against Sexual Violence staff and volunteers will be on hand to debrief with participants about their feelings and share information about domestic violence, law reform and support services available in Mongolia. Volunteers are trained to debrief if trauma or retraumatisation occurs.
The ‘Behind Closed Doors’ art installation is supported by the Embassy of Canada.
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Canada to Mongolia Eelco (Ed) Jager attended the opening of art installation at the Shangri-La Mall today. He delivered opening remarks and highlighted:
"The campaign aims to raise awareness against domestic violence. Canada and Mongolia have shared concerns about family violence that disturbs well being of all people. Canada is strong supported of human rights. Specifically, Canada strongly protects the rights of members within the family from domestic violence. We took it very seriously at home. Government agencies work very closely together to try to prevent and eliminate all forms of domestic violence. Working with Beautiful Hearts and Women for Change, is just one of series of things we have been trying to do in assistance with Mongolia, respect the decision. We have funded and supported the NGOs, small projects for 20 years. We have also cooperate with Parliament and other member of parliament to try to bring positive change and legislative improvements that help to protect Mongolians.
This installation is a wonderful. It is a very createtive and concrete way of bringing the message home to people. I have experienced it myself and I can tell you that is impressive both in a negative way and a positive way. Postive, because I think it is so wonderful that we have this way of bringing the message across. Negative, in that the message so badly need to be made. I truly hope this will help to touch Mongolian society in change attitude towards domestic violence of Mongolia. I am pleased and proud of that Canada is taking part in this event".
The art installation ‘Behind Closed Doors’ will be on display at locations across Ulaanbaatar from 17th to 30th November. To find out more and daily locations please visit Women for Change’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/women4changemongolia/?fref=ts.