In 2017, Cinzia Canneri began documenting the experiences of Eritrean women fleeing Eritrea’s repressive government. Since the outbreak of war in the Tigray region of Northern Ethiopia in 2020, her scope has expanded to include the stories of Tigrayan women fleeing from armed invasion. Both groups have been the targets of systematic sexual violence – rape, shooting, torture – that, due to social stigma, limited health facilities, and journalistic access, remains insufficiently reported by news media. By amplifying the stories and voices of the survivors, this project reimagines the idea of resilience as a complex collaborative challenge against pain, trauma, and loss.
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2025 Photo Contest - Africa - Long-Term Projects
Women’s Bodies as Battlefields
Photographer
Cinzia Canneri
Association Camille Lepage
Jury comment
This project amplifies the voices of the women affected by the war in the border region of Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Sudan, with remarkable depth and care. The jury was impressed by the photographer's commitment to the story and the trust she fostered with the Tigrinya women she photographed, shedding light on their underreported experiences. Despite working within a challenging media landscape marked by misinformation and difficulty in gaining access, the work offers a rare, intimate perspective, balancing the weight of the subject matter with moments of beauty and tenderness. Furthermore, the photographer’s self-reflective approach—evident in the strong captions, thoughtful sequencing, and acknowledgment of her positionality as an Italian woman in a region shaped by Italy’s colonial history—adds further depth to this powerful work, balancing the weight of the subject matter with moments of beauty and tenderness.