Pathways to Peace: Online evening for Yemen

A free, online evening of music, film and debate with Yemeni artists and human rights defenders exploring how art and culture contributes to peacebuilding will take place on 21 September at 7pm. The evening will be the first Geoffrey and Elisabeth Carnall Award Lecture.

With:

Radhya Al-mutawakel, Yemeni human rights defender and chairperson of Mwatana Organisation For Human Rights. Mwatana is the recipient of the first Geoffrey and Elisabeth Carnall Peace Award.

Shatha Altowai, Yemeni visual artist and Artist Protection Fund Fellow

Saber Bamatraf, Yemeni self-taught pianist and composer and Artist Protection Fund Fellow(who will perform one of his compositions)

Kate Nevens, co-author of 'Broken People Can't Heal a Nation' about the importance of the Arts in Peacebuilding in Yemen.

Chaired by: Jolyon Mitchell, professor of communications, arts and religion at Edinburgh University and editor of Peacebuilding & the Arts (2020)

Yemen's civil war, now in its seventh year, has been called an 'invisible war. It has killed more than 250,000 people including18,400 civilians making this country the world's largest humanitarian crisis the world has seen in decades, according to U.N. agencies. Yemen is also experiencing the world's worst food security crisis with 20.1 million people-nearly two-thirds of the population-requiring food assistance at the beginning of 2020.

Individuals and communities that have been subject to protracted violent conflict seek ways to move out of a cycle of violence, toward healing and reconciliation. The power of art to inspire change within people and communities has made it a valuable peace-building tool.

During the evening we will explore how art and culture can contribute to peace and reconciliation in Yemen with artists and human rights defenders who are using their art to inspire healing and change.

Radhya Al-mutawakel will join us live from Yemen to talk about the human rights situation in her country;

Kate Nevens will talk about the report she co-authored :'Broken People can't heal a nation' which is about the importance of the arts in peacebuilding in Yemen

Shatha Altowai and Saber Bamatraf will introduce their documentary film 'Voice of the Rainbow' .

After a panel discussion about the role of the arts in peacebuilding and reconciliation, Saber will perform live on the piano some original music he has composed.

South East Scotland Quakers have helped fund this event.

To attend click here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/yemen-pathways-to-peace-promoting-peace-through-art-tickets-167280908701?fbclid=IwAR01whWrP-2K94uk0y6xZfUGuq4YiKeJLDrI_Ud3BZM17lco5UachJfZX7A