On World Photo Day (19 August), the?, the?, and Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Women brought together four photographers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Lebanon and Sudan for a discussion moderated by Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications Melissa Fleming.

The conversation highlighted?the women¡¯s unique perspective on documenting peace and conflict. They contributed?their work to?Through Her Lens: Women Rising for Peace, which debuted in June at New York¡¯s?, attracting over 250,000 visitors.

¡°Our position as women photographers is essential and needed,¡± said Sudanese photographer Mona Elfateh. ¡°We see different stories, gain access to different spaces, and bring a level of intimacy that is missing when stories are only viewed through a male lens.¡±

For Lebanese photojournalist Rita Kabalan, her work champions representation, aiming to ¡°show women the way they see themselves, rather than through the lens imposed on them.¡±

Participants also discussed the significant challenges faced by women working in conflict-affected areas. Congolese photographer and artist Do Nsoseme Dora reflected on the pressure she receives ¡°to highlight narratives such as violence or victimhood over the fuller, more nuanced stories of resilience, peacebuilding, and activism.¡±

Despite these obstacles, hope remains central to every panellist¡¯s work.

¡°Seeing my work in this international event gives me strength to keep going forward,¡± shared Haitian photographer Narline Novembre.

For Ms. Elfateh, photography is ¡°about hope and a means of resisting, building a collective memory that helps us understand the past and avoid repeating its mistakes.¡±

Marking the 25th anniversary of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, the Through Her Lens? exhibition gives ¡°voice to the often underrepresented and building empathy to shift perspectives,¡± says Cailley Frank-Lehrer, Senior Photoville Producer.

The?exhibition is now at Osaka¡¯s World Expo and will be featured across Africa, the Middle East and Europe before returning to Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Headquarters in October during the Security Council open debate on Women, Peace and Security.

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