Last week, the National Council for Women (NCW), in cooperation with the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNDFW) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), organised an exhibition entitled ++”Because I am a Father”++, which runs until Saturday 10 March 2018. The aim is to celebrate fatherhood in the Egyptian society. The exhibition is held within the framework of the “Men and Women for Gender Equality Programme” and the “Because I am a Man” campaign launched by NCW. The recent exhibition includes the works of 10 painters and photographers who displayed through their art positive models, concepts and characteristics of fatherhood.
In an opening address, Amr Soliman, member of the NCW, expressed his happiness with the exhibition and the message it is seeking to convey, which is the importance man’s role as father in the family. He pointed out that NCW worked over the past two years to enhanceing the concept of gender equality in rights and duties. He thanked and appreciated all the artists who participated in the exhibition.
Blerta Aliko, UN Women Country Representative in Egypt, delivered a speech in which she thanked the NCW and the Embassy of Sweden in Egypt for supporting the exhibition. She said that “Because I’m a Man” was launched in November last year on social media, and acquired one million followers, and was supported by many public figures.
She thanked all the artists who participated in the exhibition out of their belief in the importance of the role of the real and positive father in the family. And thanked those who supported the idea of achieving gender equality putting into consideration that the exhibition emphasises that gender equality is not a matter of men or women; but it is a social development issue that the entire society should fight for to reach progress and prosperity.
The exhibition includes a collection of drawings by students from 18 schools in the cities of Aswan (Kom Ombo), Luxor (Esna) and the Red Sea (Marsa Alam). The drawings reflect men and boys’ role in gender equality cause and the definition of masculinity.