#BreaktheBias is the theme for International Women’s Day 2022 with a focus on a gender equal world, free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination.
Joy Francis, Executive Director, Words of colour Productions, uses the theme to explore the impact of the racism facing black and brown women, alongside men, living and studying in Ukraine, during a time of war. Women like 19 year old Racheal Diyaolu, a black medic from Ireland, trapped in Sumy. The black and brown mothers pleading for the safe return of their children who are among hundreds of black students and students of colour from Nigerian, Ghana, Ethiopia, Angola, Tanzania, Rwanda, India, Lebanon and Turkey. A former practising journalist, Joy draws attention to the devastating impact media bias has on people’s lives and argues why a major overhaul of news reporting is necessary to break the bias.