PRESS RELEASE: actionaid innovative women-led photography shatters refugee stereotypes 

A women-led photography exhibition organised by international charity ActionAid UK is shattering stereotypes and celebrating inspiring women refugees from around the world.  

• Women by Women returns to London with a new collection of photos celebrating refugees from around the world this International Women’s Day 

• The free exhibition is open from Thursday 7 March - Sunday 10 March at London’s gallery@oxo, Oxo Tower Wharf 

• Organised by ActionAid, thanks to funds raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, the exhibition features work by women photographers from Poland, Uganda, Bangladesh, Colombia and Turkey

  
Women by Women returns to London this International Women’s Day with a new collection of photos that highlight the incredible contributions refugees make to their host communities, as well as the trailblazing women-led organisations that support them to flourish.  
 
Held in London’s iconic gallery@oxo, Oxo Tower Wharf, on the banks of the Thames, the exhibition showcases the stunning work of photographers from five countries who tell the stories of 21 women refugees.  
 
From the Rohingya women living in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar who have trained as lifeguards to protect children in the community, to the activists in Uganda’s refugee settlements who are teaching girls how to make their own reusable period products, each of these women has a unique tale of resilience and bravery.  

Following a star-studded private launch night hosted by LBC’s Sangita Myska, the free exhibition will be open to the public for a short run of four days from 7-10 March 2024.            

Many of the women pictured describe facing discrimination in their host country, on top of the violence and trauma that led them to flee their home in the first place. Yet by using their skills to benefit their new communities, they are challenging established stereotypes around refugees and defining their own narratives.  
 
Yasmina, from Syria, survived detention by the Syrian regime and was released from prison in 2014. Now living in Turkey, she is a human rights defender, journalist, researcher, and the CEO of Freedom Jasmine, an organisation which provides life-saving services to Syrian refugees, including psychosocial support and skills training.  
 

Yasmina said: “After the [February 2023] earthquake we supported around 500 women in Syria and in Turkey with food parcels, dignity kits and other emergency supplies. Many of these women then joined our training workshops and some of them are now leaders within their communities.” 

Dilek said: “Seeing strong women and telling their stories to the whole world is important for me... What they are doing is really special, especially when you realise what they have lived through, what their experience is and they’re still strong, and this determination to make a difference for women is so important.” 

In Poland, photographer Magda Klimczak captured pictures of women refugees from countries as diverse as Afghanistan, Ukraine, Iran and Chechnya, who are all supported by Conflict Kitchen, a women-led social foundation and bistro in Warsaw.  
 
Magda said: “Each of our heroines was unique, each had different motivations and transitions, but for each one, this session was something special. Being a woman in front of a woman's lens, feeling heard, and important, gave them back their dignity.” 
 
In spotlighting the vital work of groups like Freedom Jasmine and Conflict Kitchen, the exhibition highlights the urgent need for more funding for women-led organisations, which currently receive just 1% of gender equality funding. 
 
And by showcasing the diverse range of refugee experiences, Women by Women hopes to change societal attitudes towards people seeking sanctuary.   
 
Taahra Ghazi, Director of Innovation at ActionAid UK, said: “Portrayal of refugees, particularly in the media, should be with impartiality, dignity, and humanity. We must create more space for refugee women to tell their own unique stories and celebrate their special contributions to their host communities. In doing so, we shine a light on the incredible women-led organisations that are an invaluable lifeline to women refugees in the hope that their chronic underfunding is addressed so they can continue to uplift and empower women refugees.”  

The exhibition was made possible thanks to funds raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery and awarded by Postcode International Trust, to support ActionAid’s Women By Women campaign and its anti-racism work. The flexible funding provides a lifeline to women-led organisations around the world. 

 
Find out more about the exhibition here.