How Activists Around the World Celebrated International Women’s Day

On March 8, grantees of the Fund for Global Human Rights marked International Women’s Day with creative, impactful, and vibrant activities. The Fund is proud to support women’s rights groups fighting for gender equality in every region where we work.

Here’s a snapshot of what several Fund grantees got up to:

USING TECHNOLOGY TO REDUCE GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE IN KENYA

In Kenya’s southwestern county of Kakamega, the Defenders Coalition brought together the #NiMamaNet, a national network of women human rights defenders, for a discussion on gender-based violence. These bold women human rights defenders advocate for gender justice and women’s rights through advocacy campaigns, economic empowerment, skills training, and psychosocial support that is focused on the unique needs of frontline women activists. Under the theme of “inspiring inclusion,” the discussions focused on how technology can be used to counter gender-based violence in Kenya.

ROCK MUSIC AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS IN THE PHILIPPINES

Dakila and its sister organization Active Vista work with creatives, filmmakers, writers, and musicians in the Philippines to foster popular support for human rights and democracy. To celebrate International Women’s Day, the Dakila Feminist Collective turned up the volume and held SHEbangs!; a music show featuring feminist bands and artists in Manila. It was a vibrant and inclusive celebration of women’s creativity.

Alongside the gig, Dakila hosted a conversation with creators, influencers, and storytellers focused on the importance of bodily autonomy, reproductive rights, and consent.

CELEBRATING “IRON JAWED ANGELS” IN MYANMAR

The Burmese Women’s Union hosted a vibrant and energetic event that featured the screening of ”Iron Jawed Angel,” a documentary about the history of the global women’s suffrage movement, and a discussion on gender equality and ending violence against women. Attendees also attended a mass march in Chiang Mai, Thailand, to highlight the challenges faced by women in the migrant Myanmar community.

GENDER JUSTICE AND CLIMATE JUSTICE in bataan

The Nuclear And Coal-Free Bataan Movement is a grassroots network of organizations in the Philippines supported by the Legal Empowerment Fund. They are helping communities, especially marginalized women, stand up to the fossil fuel industry that damaging the local environment and threatening livelihoods. On International Women’s Day, they held a group discussion focused on women’s rights and pollution in Lamao. Together, they brainstormed creative ways to pressure the government and corporations to do more to preserve the environment and protect the welfare of the communities.

Derek Cabe, coordinator of the movement, said “Women bear the brunt of pollution and their right to have a clean and healthy environment is being disregarded.”

INCLUSIVE ACTIVISM IN MEXICO

We know feminist movements are most effective when they are inclusive and intersectional, tackling discrimination due to gender, class, race, and sexual orientation. Elige in Mexico is one group epitomizing the fact that it takes all of us to amplify the voices of marginalized communities and pave the way for a more equitable society. Elige held a trans-inclusive and multi-generational demonstration in Mexico City.

Standing in front of the “La glorieta de las mujeres que luchan” monument under its theme of “We are not only the future, we are the present,” the feminist activists amplified the message that all young women and girls must have their fundamental rights and autonomy respected.

Long-term, flexible funding for feminist movements

At the Fund, we know that safeguarding the gains made by feminist activists across the world and pushing back against attempts to erode these hard-won victories requires far more than one day of celebrating and highlighting women’s rights. That’s why we provide flexible, long-term funding as the best way to support feminist movements in overcoming the challenges they face and effecting the social change they need.