To kick off the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, the Zonta Club of Cebu II, Philippines, staged ARTivism 2023 to show women’s universal perspectives on various gender issues through diverse stage art forms.

The club’s advocacy committee organized the exhibit, which merged art and activism, at Oakridge Garden Plaza starting on 26 November.

Women ARTivism 2023 emphasized the power of performing arts in conveying advocacy messages. The performances ranged from singing to dances, poem recitals to monologues, all amplifying women’s voices. By encouraging attendees to identify various issues, the club wanted to convey that women who want to share their advocacies can use their art to communicate.

During the event, the club tackled various issues, such as monologues on climate change, dramatic readings on human trafficking based on real-life interviews with survivors in Cebu, songs that celebrated women’s empowerment and short plays that discussed gender-based violence and life as an activist.