AMMAN, 4 December 2017 – The United Nations Population Fund Jordan (UNFPA), Seven Circles and cartoonist Omar Al Abdallat today announced the winners of their joint online cartoon competition as part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign (taking place 25 November to 10 December). Alaa Rustum of Syria and Doaa El Adl of Egypt were each awarded a $500 prize for their winning cartoons by the Landmark Amman Hotel.
“To mark the campaign this year, we wanted to find an innovative way to shed light on gender-based violence,” said Laila Baker, UNFPA Jordan Representative. “We think cartoons can provide a fresh take on a subject matter that is often times not easy to explore.”
Alaa Rustum’s cartoon, entitled “Underage,” was chosen by 1,724 online voters on Working Dreamers, a competition-based online platform created by Seven Circles and Bright Future. With the description, “Child rape in the name of marriage,” Rustum’s cartoon depicts an older man with a baby carriage containing a weeping young girl in a wedding gown. “I thank the organizers of this global competition on a topic that concerns everyone,” said Rustum. “It motivates me to continue drawing the sad and the humorous – the art of caricature.”
Doaa El Adl’s cartoon, entitled “Marriage of Minors,” depicts a smiling older man pushing a shopping cart full of young girls wearing wedding gowns and includes the description, “On the phenomenon of marriage of underage girls.” El Adl, an award-winning cartoonist who was named one of BBC’s “100 Women” in 2016, said, “I’m honored to play a role in this global competition that makes women the heroes because when I draw women and their rights, I’m drawing about me.”
El Adl’s cartoon was selected by a jury consisting of Laila Baker, Leana Islam, UNFPA Jordan Emergency Youth Officer, Bryn Boyce, Deputy Director of Programmes at International Rescue Committee, Mary Nazzal-Batayneh, named as one of Forbes’ most powerful Arab businesswomen, Hana Al Araj, a journalist and TV presenter and Gada Jermy, a digital artist.
The online cartoon competition, held from 20 October to 20 November, invited people over 18 years old to submit original cartoons highlighting the negative effects of child marriage and domestic violence. The competition garnered a total of 167 cartoons and 6,190 votes.
To view the online cartoon competition, please visit www.workingdreamers.com
