Freeda Media’s Post

Last night I had the honour of meeting Nemonte Nenquimo, Indigenous activist, author and member of the Waorani Nation from the Amazonian Region of Ecuador. She is the first elected female president of the Waorani and co-founder of the Indigenous-led nonprofit organization Ceibo Alliance. She was named one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2020. The talk Nemonte gave was humbling and inspiring in equal measure. Thank you to AllBright for this opportunity. Nemonte spoke from the perspective of a culture that has largely remained unpolluted by Western ideals, drawing on ancient wisdom. What struck me most was how much the themes and sentiments of her wisdom, mirrored the elements of the models and theories that I believe in and deliver training on. Models that are often criticised for being too Western and therefore "cannot be cross-culturally applicable". I found it deeply reassuring that many of these ideas do seem to be universal truths, understood by cultures who haven't been exposed to Western pedagogical models. Nemonte spoke explicitly about transgenerational trauma; about reducing violence and inequality in the world by raising children with patience and instilling the values of respect and love (ideas which chime closely with everything I teach about attachment theory and compassion-focused approaches); about daily self care and connecting to the resources around us (natural, social, spiritual). In her matriarchal culture she described effective leadership as a process that is considered and collaborative, as opposed to rushing in impatiently and making rash decisions autocratically. She described gender equality as a genuine balance that draws on everybody's strengths, as opposed to a competition where two opposing sides fight for superiority. I am reassured and heartened that Nemonte's voice has a platform and is respected on a global stage. In a world that often seems to be falling apart around us, I hope that these universal principles of societal wellbeing can prevail. #leadership #climatejustice #equality #wellbeing #femaleleaders

💖 This June in Bratislava we had a full house for the gathering of some of the most amazing feminist & LGBTQIA+ activists from the Central and Eastern Europe! 🎤Zsofi B. led the panel with Duma Magazyn (Poland), Light* (Slovakia), Kolektiv Plusko+ (Czech Republic) and our Dinara S., in the framework of ‘Perspective Talks’ by Goethe-Institut Bratislava. 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️✍️ Ahead of the #PRIDE celebrations, here are some key takeaways from the panel: • Building solidarity and regional networks for CEE #feminist and #LGBTQIA+ organizations is vital to strengthening our activism. • CEE feminists and LGBTQIA+ are still fighting for BASIC rights - abortion, gender-affirming care, safe spaces and more. • Activists feel solidarity to other marginalised groups, unrepresented by the liberal "lean in" feminisms promoted in Europe. • LGBTQIA+ communities are divided over capitalism, Pride is often just an exercise of #pinkwashing by Western companies present in the region. • Being non-Western European is a complex interplay between being "oppressed" and the "oppressor" in different contexts. • Regional activism must be heard on the EU level. ✊💥It was eye-opening to hear the many complexities and commonalities in activism in Polish, Slovak, Czech and Hungarian contexts. 👉Follow these incredible organizations and let us know what messages you resonate with? Which city should we come to next?

"The borders of gender expression are controlled, the ‘territory’ of bodily autonomy is seized, like any other apartheid wall or land grab our partners face from Palestine to Mexico." 🌍🌈 This Pride Month, we are proud to spotlight the incredible global trans resistance that shows us why gender and sexual freedom is necessary. Our partners and grantees are part of this struggle, demonstrating that there is no climate justice, no food sovereignty, without trans liberation — and vice versa. Trans and queer liberation intersects with broader struggles for environmental sustainability, racial justice, and economic equity. The same forces that impose monoculture and destroy biodiversity also seek to erase the diverse expressions of gender and sexuality. Our partners, from Palestine to Puerto Rico, are incorporating and championing these struggles — including by organizing and educating their comrades on their importance. Read our blog post to learn more about the intersectionality of gender and other critical issues, and how our partners are making a difference worldwide: https://lnkd.in/e6NrWvgR Join us in supporting these courageous activists and organizations. Together, we can build a more just and equitable world for all. #PrideMonth #TransResistance

See you at CSW68, we have a lot of findings and learnings to share as a result of an intense year of work in solidarity among diverse feminist organizations. #CSW68 #FeministAccountability #FeministData

In China, queer communities exist within a complex framework shaped by legislation, morality, national gender governance, and geopolitics. Myself, Fan Y. and Sara E Davies identified that LGBTIQ+ communities in China operate as legally invisible subjects, as they are not openly discussed in official or public discourse. This legal invisibility, coupled with the government’s crackdown on civil society has legitimised China’s approach to queer necropolitics, namely, state resources are channelled to undermine queer activism, leading to the re-criminalisation of LGBTIQ+ organisations and moral scrutiny of their online visibility. Queer activists, understanding themselves as ‘glowing fireflies’ 🎆, engage in what we term ‘invisible activism’ to continue advocating for gender equity while prioritising self-survival and protection. #InvisibleActivism #GlowingFireflies #Activism #CivilSociety #Criminalisation #Convergence

As part of its current OGP action plan, #Colombia committed to involving women's civil society organizations and people from the #LGBTQIA+ community in the implementation of the Feminist Foreign Policy. 🌈 LGBTQIA+ voices and concerns will be more directly included in foreign policy discussions, ensuring that their specific needs and issues are addressed. 🌈 LGBTQIA+ individuals and organizations can influence the shaping and implementation of policies, advocating for protections and rights that specifically benefit their community. 🌈 Active involvement in high-level policy discussions can increase the visibility of LGBTQIA+ issues, helping to normalize their inclusion in national and international agendas. More about the commitment: https://lnkd.in/eBswnH9J #PrideMonth #colombia #pride #lgbtqia #opengov Cancillería de Colombia

It was a pleasure working with Ausma and Sara on this brilliant piece. We intended to explore the paradox of legal invisibility and moral visibility faced by queer communities in China, a dynamic that has culminated in what we understand "queer necropolitics" — the hegemonic power to decide on physical or social death. Queerness is largely absent from official discourse and remains unrecognised within China’s legislative framework. Morally, it is positioned as unacceptable, conflicting with prevailing social norms. Despite this, queer activism continues to exist, if not thrive, under these conditions. In a society marked by extensive online and offline surveillance, queer activism operates invisibly. Unable to publicly protest, community members adopt other forms of resistance. Drawing on Black feminist theories and Chinese queer studies, we analyse this form of "invisible activism," which manifests through communal care and peer support. By focusing on sustaining the community, queer activism endures. Link below: https://lnkd.in/g74yUECT

“When people ask me rather bluntly every now and then whether I am a feminist, I not only answer yes, but I go on to insist that every woman and every man should be a feminist— especially if they believe that Africans should take charge of our own development” — Ama Ata Aidoo Across the globe and within the continent, African women are at the forefront of the global feminist movement! Their resounding message: gender equality, inclusion, and justice for all women. Through their influential presence in various media channels, these women are steadfastly working to realize this mission. ▪️ Aya Chebbi : Founder, Nala Feminist Collective ▪️ Francoise Moudouthe : CEO, African Women's Development Fund (AWDF) ▪️Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie ▪️ Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah : Author, The Sex Lives of African Women ▪️ Yvette Kathurima : Manager, Equity, Gender & Youth Field Building Lead, Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) ▪️ JAHA DUKUREH : Founder, Safe Hands for Girls ▪️ Reem Abbas : Communications coordinator, Mobilizing Men for Feminist Peace Programme, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom - WILPF ▪️ Rana Abdelhamid Founder, MALIKAH ▪️ Njoki Wamai, PhD : Assistant Professor, Politics and International Relations, United States International University - Africa ▪️ Rosebell Kagumire : Editor, AfricanFeminism.com In this article, we highlight 10 exceptional African feminist leaders. These trailblazers are spearheading organizations, advocating on the streets, influencing boardrooms and newsrooms, and contributing significantly through their acclaimed literary works. Their impact ranges from creating impactful feminist conversations to actively supporting women-focused initiatives. Read more about these inspiring African feminists with the link below https://lnkd.in/ekmHe_MJ #AfricanFeminists #FeministMovement #GenderEquality #WeShouldAllBeFeminists #GenderJustice #Diversity #Inclusion #LeadingLadiesAfrica

💰 Only 1% of development sector funding reaches gender/feminist movements. Decisions on funding are made by those far removed from the impact. We have the evidence, the money is there, yet the system thrives on scarcity, making allies compete. 🌍 During our Feminist Funding Tapestry Series event last year, leaders from Black Feminist Fund (Jabulisile Tugwana), Equality Fund (Jess Tomlin), Co-Impact (Alfonsina Peñaloza), and Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice/Prospera International Network of Women's Funds (Joy Chia) shared their insights on feminist funding, highlighting the urgent need for real and radical changes in funding practices. This #WomensHistoryMonth and #InternationalWomensDay, let's choose collective action and advancement. #InvestInWomen #RadicalChange #NoMoreEmptyPromises #FeministFunding #AccelerateProgress

Proudly African Feminist Just in case you are curious what it means   A singular definition might be hard but "African feminist” has the following core aspects : *Focus on the lived realities of African women, acknowledging the unique challenges they face due to colonialism, historical injustices, and ongoing socioeconomic realities. *Emphasis on intersectionality, recognizing that gender inequality is intertwined with other forms of oppression, including racism, classism, and colonialism. *Promoting women's agency and self-determination Emphasis on community empowerment. collaborative solutions, often grounded in local traditions and values. *Critically engaging with Western feminist theories, acknowledging their strengths while highlighting their limitations in addressing the specific needs of African women *Celebrating and revitalizing positive aspects of African cultures that focues on Positive masculinity.