Gender Equality

This project should be regarded as an added value in the wider context of the existing programmes in the field of gender equality that are currently on the way in Montenegro. In that regard, the project significantly contributes to already initiated campaign of increasing sensibility of Montenegrin public to the issues and significance of gender equality.

The issue of gender equality is present in almost all CCE programmes through some specific segments. However, taking into consideration its complexity and a need to communicate this issue to the target group which is wider than participants of our programmes, a joint project/ play "Death and the Maiden" was made in cooperation with City theatre.

The aim of the project is to raise awareness in the Montenegrin society about the issues of gender equality and to influence enhancement of legal and substantial framework of gender equality in Montenegro. At the same time, theatre life of the play is followed by well conceived media campaign which is pointing out to the male/female relations through a fight for preservation of integrity and individuality; that is of human (women) rights.

„Death and the Maiden" is a powerful political drama treating psychological consequences of human rights violations. Famous Chilean writer Ariel Dorfman started to work on this piece while in exile, in mid eighties of the XX century, while his country was under military dictatorship of the General Augusto Pinochet, and has finished it only after re-establishment of democracy in 1990. Central figure is a woman, Paulina, who gets an opportunity to take revenge on a man for whom she believes was her tormentor fifteen years ago.

This play has been proclaimed by round the world critics as being dramatically engaging and historically adequate, because a large number of countries in the world are faced with painful heritage of repressive regimes and violation of the rights of women, children and man.

The drama "Death and the Maiden" which has been performed in more that 2,000 versions and gained worldwide success, is dealing with the relation of the woman and present time, her status, importance and value. Subtly examining the fragility of the soul and male/female relations, the play is based on true events occurring during South American military coup in 70ies of the last century. This planetary successful piece is genre-defined by the Latino American writer Ariel Dofman as "moral thriller of intense passions". This work unites in the best feasible way the terms art and fight for human (women) rights.

We consider that today and here this play is authentic, interesting and above all- it allows a possibility of purification (catharsis). Through a story settled in "a distant Latino American country" we actually see our reflection in the mirror. Specifically that distance filter is the cause of so strong engagement of the play and its omnipresence on worldwide theatre scene, as well as its actuality throughout the world, since women are unfortunately still in the position to explain the essence of their being and to fight for their status and values.

"Sunday Times" from London once wrote that this play by Ariel Dorfman, awarded with Pulitzer Prize, was "a frightening moral thriller which combines brilliant screenplay with clear taught and overwhelming passion".

If we recognise ourselves, our time and traumas in this story - do not get surprised or frightened. All of this is ours, we have been through it, yet would not accept that fact, and every similarity to our situation is intentional - without intention to be banal or vulgar. In the Constitution - visible, in the Law- protected, in institutions- respected, in family- equal, on the street- free!

Director: Goran Vukelić
Roles: Maja Šarenac Maraš, Branko Ilić, Zoran Vujović

Member of the Centre for Civic Education took active part in the campaign of the Gender Equality Office of the Government of Montenegro, under the auspices of the SIDA and UNDP agencies during 2006.

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