Canvas
Stories about the she-side of conflict:
The documentary series No Man’s Land gives women who are working for peace in conflict zones, a voice. All over the world, women are often seen as victims, but rarely as part of a solution.
We travelled to Cameroon, Nicaragua and Brazil, to tell three stories of the she-side of conflict. Stories about women who keep the hope of peace alive.
Brazil
Amazones:
Mulheres da luta
A documentary by
Jan De Deken & Thomas Ceulemans
In Brazil, native women are fighting for the climate and their own survival. With the arrival of the radical right president Jair Bolsonaro, this battle became even more urgent. Illegal logging, forest fires and violent crimes are increasing.
Jan and Thomas followed the native Sonia Guajajara and the young Maura and Marta, who are defending the Amazon forest and the Cerrado.
Why you should watch the documentary
according to Jan?
“The Brazilian ecosystems and the natives were never more threatened than now. The whole world is going to be affected by what’s happening in Brazil. The lung of the world is on fire and accelerates the global warming. Europe is, after China, the most important trading partner of Brazil and has the power to stop the Brazilian environmental and human rights violations.”
Nicaragua
Outspoken
A documentary by
Lisanne Corijn & Bram Van Roy
In April 2018, thousand Nicaraguan citizens expressed their strong opposition to the structural reforms of the government. During this protest dozens of human lives were taken and hundreds of people were arrested. Their freedom of speech was deprived.
Some strong women refuse to stop fighting for their country and their rights. They find the strength to carry on. Lisanne and Bram went to Nicaragua to look for the hidden acts of resistance.
Why you should watch the documentary
according to Lisanne.
“The conflict in Nicaragua is unknown in Belgium. It hurts to realize that one of the fundamental human rights was violated: freedom of speech. This conflict still doesn’t get the attention that it needs, more in particular what the citizens are going through and how they find a way to deal with it.
These women are so strong, brave and hopeful. It’s an inspiration for all of us. We wanted convey their message to the people in Belgium.“
Cameroon
A Violent Home
A documentary by
Thea Mathues & Sam Deckers
Since October 2016, Cameroon is dealing with a conflict between the English-speaking provinces and the French-speaking government. A protest of teachers and lawyers degenerated into violence by the government forces of president Paul Biya.
Thea and Sam followed two strong women, who each in their own way, try to find a solution to this problem. Esther Omam wants to get women around the negotiating table and helps refugees to keep their dignity in the English provinces. And Edith Kah Walla who is developing a popular movement with French-speakers and English-speakers, side by side, against the regime of Paul Biya.
Why you should watch the documentary
according to Thea.
“Each year the Norwegian Refugee Council makes a report with the top ten list of the most unreported humanitarian crises. This year, the conflict in the English spoken provinces of Cameroon has the honour to be number one. Despite the fact that 35,000 people of Cameroon already fled to the neighbouring country Nigeria, and more than 450,000 people of Cameroon are seeking refuge in their own country, this news doesn’t reach us.
We wanted to change this with our documentary. Not only to capture the crisis but to find a solution for this conflict and to give these women the voice that they need.”
No Man’s Land is a project of Het Peloton, Canvas and Esperas (a collaboration between Moeders voor Vrede, Mama Kivu and Make Mothers Matter) with the support of European Union via Frame Voice Report.
Het Peloton developed the stories of women in Brazil, Nicaragua and Cameroon into three tv-documentaries, in close collaboration with the directors.