Write a comment
A short film examining the health challenges faced by migrant women will be screened in Newry this Thursday 18 June, followed by a panel discussion. The event takes place at The Bookshelf in Newry this Thursday 18 June at 7.30pm and is free to attend.
'Migrant Women Seen and Heard in Indie News Week' is being organised by the Community Development & Health Network (CDHN) in partnership with independent media outlets VIEWdigital and Newry.ie, with support from the National Union of Journalists Belfast & District branch and the Public Interest News Foundation.
The film, co-created with migrant women and filmed in Warrenpoint, focuses on what happens when female interpreters are not available at medical appointments for women with little or no English, and the impact this has on their health.
Tickets are free and available through www.eventbrite.co.uk
Eileen Chan-Hu, Founder of CRAICNI, who will take part in the panel discussion, said: "My passion for race relations comes from my mother and the brave women who came before me. That is why this film is so vital. It pulls hidden cultural barriers out of the shadows, proving that we need active listening, true respect, and safe communication. We are strong women, not victims and we deserve the same chance to thrive and be heard."
CDHN Director Joanne Vance, who will also appear on the panel, said: "Organisations working to improve community health through inclusive approaches are well aware of the challenges many people face in accessing public services. Our members will be keen to hear directly from women about how these barriers are affecting their health, their ability to attend medical appointments, and their experiences of navigating local support services."
Una Murphy from VIEWdigital said: "We are pleased to get support from CDHN and NUJ for this screening and panel discussion. We are grateful to migrant women who co-created this short film which highlights an important issue on migrant women's health. The event marks Public Interest News Foundation Indie News Week in Northern Ireland and is taking place during Refugee Week. The short films were made with funding from Future Screens NI."
Columba O'Hare from Newry.ie added "Independent news outlets such as VIEWdigital and Newry.ie are the perfect place to highlight challenges within our community and give people a voice. The difficulties migrant women experience very often go unheard, so we are delighted to be involved in facilitating the conversation."
The panel will be facilitated by Sarah Henry, Human Rights Advocacy and Research Officer with the Human Rights Consortium. She previously worked as a solicitor specialising in human rights and immigration law.
