HELEN SUZMAN:
Fighter for Human Rights

Exhibition from South Africa
Opens in Barnard College's new building, The Diana Center
Barnard College - Columbia University, New York City
February 9, 2010 through March 28, 2010

January 11, 2010, New York, NY: One of the most extraordinary women of the twentieth century, Helen Suzman devoted her career to the fight against apartheid and for human rights in South Africa. As a tribute to her exceptional efforts, the Isaac and Jessie Kaplan Centre for Jewish Studies and Research at the University of Cape Town has organized a graphic panel exhibition that captures her work, her courage, and her voice. Based on photographs, personal letters, and journalism, this moving and inspiring exhibition will be on view from February 9 through March 28, 2010 in Barnard College's newest building, The Diana Center.

Barnard College President Debora L. Spar remarked, "Several years ago, I was lucky enough to meet Helen Suzman in her home for lunch. She was an indomitable, inspiring woman - and had more wisdom about leadership to offer over a plate of cold chicken than I've read in books and books on the topic. It is an honor to bring her legacy to Barnard." Helen Suzman was a guest speaker in Barnard's Gildersleeve Lecture Series in November 1974.

On February 9, the exhibition will open with a panel discussion on international human rights activism, featuring Helen Lieberman, founder and honorary president of Ikamva Labantu (The Future of our Nation), a South African grassroots social development organization; Virginia Magwaza-Setshedi, an anti-privatization activist; and Jody Williams, the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and founder of the Nobel Women's Initiative. The panel will be moderated by Yvette Christiansë, associate professor of English at Fordham University. This event is part of the Ingeborg, Tamara, and Yonina Rennert Forum on Women and Judaism and is co-sponsored by the Barnard Center for Research on Women, the Dobkin Family Foundation, the Tolan Family Foundation, the Ralph and Emily Simon Foundation, and the American Jewish World Service. The viewing of the exhibition begins at 5:50pm and the program begins at 6:30pm. The public is invited free of charge.

"How fitting for an institution devoted to women's education to host an exhibition honoring a courageous woman," said Millie Pimstone, exhibition curator. "Helen Suzman's contribution to the pursuit of justice in South Africa received overwhelming recognition at home and abroad. Among scores of honors and awards were twenty-seven honorary doctorates, one of which was conferred on her by Columbia University in 1977."

From the start of her political career that spanned almost four decades, Helen Suzman opposed the evils of apartheid and used the parliamentary system to challenge these inhumane policies. For thirteen years (1961-1974) she was the only Progressive Party member of Parliament and the sole opposition voice condemning apartheid. Through photographs, personal letters, quotations from speeches and news articles, this exhibition tells of the animosity, anti-Semitism and intimidation Suzman faced throughout her career. It also highlights her enduring friendship with Nelson Mandela which began in early 1967 when she met him at the infamous Robben Island Prison where he was a political prisoner.
Suzman was nominated twice for the Nobel Peace Price in recognition of her contribution to the pursuit of justice in South Africa. She received the United Nations Award of the International League for Human Rights in 1978. In 1989, Queen Elizabeth conferred on her an Honorary Dame Commander (Civil Division) of the Order of the British Empire. Suzman died on January 1, 2009, at the age of 91. Flags across South Africa were flown at half-mast while tributes poured in from around the world.

A series of panels related to human rights, women in politics, and health issues in Africa will be held on February 18 and 25 and March 4, 11, and 25 at 6:30pm at the Kraft Center, 606 west 115 Street. More information is forthcoming.

The United States tour of the exhibition is sponsored by the Dobkin Family Foundation and the Tolan Family Foundation.

For more information about the HELEN SUZMAN: Fighter for Human Rights exhibition, visit www.helensuzmanexhibition.com or www.barnard.edu/bcrw or contact Exhibition Manager, Jill Vexler, PhD at 212-505-6427, jill@jillvexler.com or Publicist, Rachel Tarlow Gul at 201-503-1321, Rachel@tarlowgul@nj.rr.com.