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| Artwork "Who can I trust with my story?" from ArtVism in Uganda |
During the 69th CSW, the Our Voices Our Futures (OVOF) consortium organised a creative ARTivism for Change space where bold protest sign-making, intimate film screenings, and thought-provoking feminist dialogues blended together. Over two days, March 12 and 13, 2025, artists, activists, and allies transformed the space into dynamic real-life canvases of empowerment, solidarity, and cultural and political resistance.
In the main space of the Blue Gallery participants engaged with various stations, including Button Making, Journaling with Art, Drawing, and Protest Sign Making. Participants moved between activities, creating powerful messages of resistance and hope. The creativity extended beyond the activities themselves.
Access Denied
The ACCESS DENIED campaign, initiated by WO=MEN, was set up to be a photo installation. It highlights the deep gap between the inclusive vision set forth at the 1995 Beijing Conference and the ongoing exclusion experienced by many activists especially those from the Global South, including Black and Brown women, women with disabilities, youth, trans and non-binary people, sex workers, and undocumented migrants. Despite this year marking the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration, countless individuals were unable to attend CSW69 due to visa denials, delayed or cancelled appointments, high costs, or safety concerns. Soon after Trump’s (second) installment as President to the USA, alarming patterns emerged: last-minute visa cancellations and postponed interviews underscored the systemic barriers that continue to deny meaningful participation in global advocacy spaces.
Solidarity with Defenders
One of the most poignant sessions, Your Words, Their Freedom, which was facilitated by the Meso-American network IM-Defensoras, invited participants to write solidarity letters to women human rights defenders (WHRDs) unjustly imprisoned in Nicaragua and Mexico. This moment of reflection, resistance, and compassion underscored the profound impact of heartfelt words in the fight for justice.
The Full Picture PubQuiz
The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) brought The Full Picture campaign to life at CSW69 through an engaging and dynamic PubQuiz—an interactive event that blended fun, trivia, and thought-provoking feminist facts. Participants tested their knowledge on digital rights, gender equality, and the intersection of technology and social justice. While also being introduced to the campaign’s powerful message: pause before you scroll! Spearheaded by APC in collaboration with the Our Voices Our Futures (OVOF) consortium, The Full Picture campaign calls on audiences to slow down and critically engage with the content they consume online. In an era of viral headlines and emotionally charged misinformation, it urges us to ask: is this really the full picture? The quiz, like the campaign itself, encouraged thoughtful digital engagement and highlighted the role of collective awareness in countering disinformation and reclaiming digital spaces.
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| One of the teams engaging in The Full Picture PubQuiz |
In the Atrium, the Inner Peace Oasis—curated by UHAI—offered a soothing retreat from the intensity of CSW69. Music and cozy bean bags invited activists to sit back, relax, and unwind. Guided by psychologist and human rights advocate Sophie Carol Wanyenze, the space became a true sanctuary for collective care—where participants could pause, breathe deeply, recharge, and reconnect with their inner power. It was a powerful reminder that in the midst of activism, rest and restoration are essential parts of resistance.
One of the participants described the ARTivism for Change space as:
“a refreshing and energising experience that reminded me of the power of creativity in activism. It was a rare space where I could feel inspired, express myself freely, and connect with both the art and the people around me.”
Those seeking deeper self-exploration joined the Reimagining Consent and Power workshop, led by Brindaa and APC, using art to reflect on boundaries, strength, and reclaiming personal agency.
Unsilencing on the Big Screen
The Theater space at ARTivism for Change offered a lineup of screenings and dialogues that showcased the intersection of identity, resistance, and storytelling. QueerFrames by The Muslim Queer Project reframed South Asian gender narratives through a series of short documentaries, while Reisende, a short documentary by Cosmopolitans, ESWA and BV Trans, offered a sensitive portrayal of the lives of migrant trans women and sex workers in Germany.
The Feminist Tech & SRHR Dialogue brought together voices on queer health, rights, and the role of technology in advocacy. Healing Through Creativity explored art as a therapeutic tool, and A Decade of the Rainbow Anthology amplified LGBTQ+ voices from Uganda through poetry and lived experience. Short documentaries from Bangladesh shed light on caste, disability, and women's rights, creating space for often-overlooked narratives. Drag as Art-Activism celebrated queer expression and resistance through performance.
Podcasting Silenced Voices
Freedom and Roam Uganda (FARUG) organised an actual Podcast Listening Party, a unique opportunity to connect with the powerful stories and voices of LBQ women from Uganda, whose experiences are often silenced in local and global conversations. Through the podcast, FARUG highlighted the intersection of gender, sexuality, and activism, showcasing the resilience and strength of LBQ women in a context of political, social, and legal challenges.
Art as a Catalyst for Change
To me, being part of ARTivism for Change was more than just an event. It felt more like a movement within a movement. Over the course of two transformative days, it underscored that art heals, protests, connects, and calls us to action. Whether wielding a pen, paintbrush, camera, or microphone, participants departed with a renewed understanding that creativity is power.
By Chrystobel Thompson, Our Voices Our Futures (OVOF)
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