The 2^nd Central Festival To Combat Violence Against Women in the Gaza Strip will take place on Thursday, 8 December 2011, in Gaza City.

Building on the success of last year’s great experience which brought together an audience of more than 1,500 people, the 2^nd Festival will propose a wide range of performances and activities to raise the audience awareness of violence against women as a public issue and a violation of human rights. An original song, specifically composed to mark the occasion, will be unveiled at the event through a performance by talented Gazan artists.

The 2^nd Festival, organized under the slogan "Stand up! Speak out! End Violence Against Women" is coordinated by the Amal Coalition to Combat Violence Against Women with the support of UN Women, UNRWA, UNDP/PAPP and OHCHR. It is designed as a direct contribution to the UN Secretary General’s campaign UNiTE to End Violence against Women.

Festival highlights:

• Theatre performance
• Operetta "Ana Mariam/I am Mariam" (original song composed for the festival by the female Gazan artist Aarab)
• The Body (documentary film directed by Rita Is-Hak)
• Dabka (traditional Palestinian dance performed by the Asriya Centre Group)