September 24, 2024
Building A World Without Fear
In a world where the rights of women and LGBTQ+ people are under constant threat, the leadership and courage of feminist activists are more vital than ever. From online harassment to physical violence, movements and individuals face immense risks and reprisals in our collective pursuit of justice.
Understanding the backlash activists face is the first step toward shifting power, protection, and resources to feminist movements building a more just and equitable world. Feminist Activism Without Fear: Facing Risks with Collective Power and Care, a campaign by Urgent Action Fund for Feminist Activism, elevates the voices of activists who are targeted and attacked because of their work.
This campaign offers activists, movements, funders, and policymakers recommendations and resources to better support feminist activist movements in building sustainable networks of collective protection and care in the face of rising threats.
Intensifying Risks and Reprisals
Feminist movements around the world are at the forefront of urgent, innovative movements for change. However, they are facing a growing number of threats to their safety and experiencing a surge in intimidation and violence directed at their members, organizations and even families. This backlash can take many forms, including:
- Digital surveillance: activists are targeted with cyberbullying, doxing, and death threats.
- Smear campaigns: activists are subjected to false accusations and attempts to damage their reputations.
- Violence: activists face physical, emotional, and other forms of harm including the loss of countless lives.
- Legal harassment: governments and corporations use legal tactics to silence activists.
- Social isolation: activists can be ostracized by their communities or families.
Irina, a journalist and environmental activist, highlighted the costs to her and the many other activists who are forced to fight charges leveled against them because of their activism—including, in her case, slander. See Irina’s story and others here.*
*Names have been changed to protect the safety of activists.
“Collective care is also about movements’ sustainability. If activists are not well supported, how can they continue their work that is essential to building the just and equitable world we need?” –Somer Nowak, Senior Collective Care Officer, Urgent Action Fund for Feminist Activism
The Power of Collective Care
Feminist activists have much to offer each other in preparing for, avoiding, and healing from threats and reprisals. To address these challenges, it is essential to foster supportive communities and networks of care.
By establishing the infrastructure necessary to create and sustain collective care networks and practices, feminist movements can build collective power from a position of individual and collective well-being to challenge oppressive systems and imagine alternatives where everyone can live more safely, freely and without fear.
Collective care and protection networks are one of the most effective ways feminist activists keep themselves and each other safe.
Taking Action: How You Can Get Involved
By following the leadership of frontline feminist movements, supporting their collective safety and care, and resourcing them abundantly, we can support activists to prevent, mitigate, and heal from threats and ensure they and their movements thrive over time.
Explore our campaign resources and tools, including recommendations for:
Join our movement and take action to support frontline feminist movements in building a world where everyone can live safely, freely, and fearlessly. Want to learn more? Visit: feministactivismwithoutfear.org.
*Feminist Activism Without Fear:Facing Risks With Collective Power and Care was produced by Urgent Action Fund for Feminst Activism with support from the Count Me In! Consortium.*
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Freedom to Exist: The LGBTQ+ Movement’s Quest for Justice and Equality
Across the globe, patriarchal norms and systems and heteronormative structures continue to marginalize and oppress LGBTQ+ people, depriving them of basic human rights. Despite progress in recent years, shifting political landscapes are steadily rolling back hard-won legal protections, gender-based violence, and discrimination threaten the lives and well-being of LGBTQ+ individuals, and LGBTQ+ communities in crises are often denied resources and aid due to discriminatory practices and policies. These are just a few of the obstacles the LGBTQ+ community faces worldwide. Despite these obstacles, LGBTQ+ communities and activists are at the forefront of change, democratization, and progress around the world. Urgent Action Fund for Feminist Activism is proud to support activists and their efforts as they fight for equity.
Philanthropy, We’re Calling On You: Fund Feminist Activism Now
In 1997, Urgent Action Fund for Feminist Activism was founded with the vision of providing quick, easily accessible resources to feminist activists in urgent need of help and support worldwide. Today, we continue to provide rapid response grants to women, trans, and LBGTQ+ movements, filling a gap where traditional philanthropy falls short. But the gap in resourcing for feminist activists is vast, and today, we are calling on funders to step up.
