Nigerian actress Joke Silva has called for an end to all forms of sexual harassment and negative stereotypes against women in the film industry.
Silva, who is the President of the Forum of Women in Film and Television in Nigeria, made the statement at the Women in Film and Television Conference held in Lagos on Wednesday.
“The importance of women in the film industry is paramount to shaping our nation, so we need a safe and conducive environment to thrive,” she said. “All forms of sexual harassment in the film industry must be eradicated, as it harms the nation in more ways than you can imagine. It is also important that we get rid of all forms of negative stereotypes in films, where we depict certain things in ways that are not true to reality.”
She added, “We also need more women in government to make policies and strengthen our stance in the country.”
Anita Duckworth-Bradshaw, a life coach at Powerhouse Global Magazine, encouraged women who have been abused in the profession to speak up, as it would help them heal. She noted that healing from past trauma would allow victims to make a significant impact on the industry.
“There has been a lot of damage done to women, and we need to start talking about it to address the issues and help with the healing process,” Duckworth-Bradshaw said. “We must deal with the hurt to give our full selves to the industry and share our pain to lighten the emotional burden we carry.”
Mrs. Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, co-founder of the African Women’s Development Fund, emphasized the need to view adversities as stepping stones to great success. She also highlighted the importance of giving women the right platforms to excel in all forms of entertainment, stating that the value of women cannot be overstated.
Beatrice Eyong, Director of UN Women in Nigeria, added that “Women should become irreplaceable and indispensable in the industry so that when they are absent, their impact is felt.”
Eyong also stressed the importance of supporting women in decision-making roles within the film industry, and the need for the industry to adopt certain principles to guide everyone.
The event featured panel discussions on building long-term networks and improving the country’s structure, technology, and infrastructure.
