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👁️🏳️‍⚧️ Newsletter De Olho Na Abong - 14/07 LGBTQIAP+ rights and sustainable development: reflections in the context of Pride Month 2025 ‘We are not just imagining power; we are claiming it’: Women at the forefront of change in the Horn of Africa Reflecting on CSW69 and on gender movements "Justice in our country is a luxury": Standing for Women and Girls in the Democratic Republic of Congo From Uganda to Sri Lanka: The fight for LGBTQ+ equality and freedom Reimagining Power: The Fight for a Feminist UN Leader Women Bring "Emotional Medicine" to Buduburam Refugee Camp Amidst Demolition Crisis Reclaiming Power: Dianah Kamande’s Inspiring Journey from Survivor to Advocate for Justice Empowering Women and Girls: Fighting Gender-Based Violence and Driving Change in Cameroon In Afghanistan, women and girls fight oppression through continued education As the world observes Pride Month 2025 – a period marked by a wide range of events, parades, marches, and discussions – we reflect on the role that LGBTQIAP+ rights play in the global architecture of sustainable development ahead of our involvement in the upcoming UN High-Level Political Forum. “Audre Lorde said, ‘There is no hierarchy in oppression.’ My activism is rooted in this belief. Whether it’s gender-based violence, ethnic discrimination or economic marginalization, our fights are linked.” The 69th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) convened at a time when gender equality efforts face heavy challenges. Drastic funding cuts and shrinking civic spaces, translate into global advocates gathering to reaffirm commitments to gender justice and call for urgent, coordinated action. The Forus network and its partners, leveraged the March With Us campaign and the Forus Leadership Development Program to spotlight feminist leadership and resilience at this year’s CSW. For over 30 years, armed conflict in the DRC has displaced millions, with women and children bearing on their own skins and hearts the violence. In recent months, the crisis has deepened, forcing thousands from their homes. Gender-based violence, lack of access to healthcare, and economic hardship have reached catastrophic levels. Frank Mugisha and Rosanna Flamer-Caldera are LGBTQ+ activists from Uganda and Sri Lanka respectively. Despite violence and social reprisal, they continue to fight against their countries' anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. The 1 for 8 Billion campaign isn’t just about electing a woman; it’s about fixing a flawed system. The UN’s appointment process has long been dominated by a handful of powerful nations, with backroom deals deciding leadership roles. Amid the remains of the once-thriving Buduburam refugee camp, a group of women is offering a collective source of healing. As thousands of displaced Liberians face an uncertain future following the demolition of their homes, Rachel J. Bestman, Dehcontee Gould, Martalhen Q. Dorbor, and Vera Dweh have stepped in with a mission of care and psychosocial support. The fight for justice, equality and dignity often begins in the most personal spaces of pain. Dianah Kamande’s story—one of unimaginable hardship, resilience and triumph—stands as a testament to the transformative power of courage and advocacy. As part of the March with Us campaign, her narrative not only inspires but calls for urgent action to reimagine the patriarchal systems that fail so many daily. For years, Cameroon has faced sociopolitical challenges that disproportionately impact women and girls. From gender-based violence to economic exclusion and digital abuse, the barriers to equality remain high. Yet, activists like Dr. Tumasang and Nancy Saiboh are at the forefront of change, working tirelessly to empower women and create sustainable solutions for a more equitable society. “Afghan women don’t need saving. They need access to opportunities. And when they get them, they will show the world just how powerful they are.”

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Aruna Roy: “The structures of power have to be questioned and made to deliver” Line Niedeggen: On complex solutions for a complex crisis La Coordinadora: "The feminist approach wants to put an end to sexism, sexist exploitation and oppression” Gender Patterns in Tech: “The cycle of marginalization can and must be broken” UNITAS: on "diverse feminist movements" in Bolivia Kirthi Jayakumar: “All violence against women is political” Lina Al Hathloul: “Saudi voices are not heard enough” “The online space is not gender neutral” Ruth Kay Kangwa: “Electoral violence against women is real, not just in Zambia, but all over Africa” Madagascar : Bridging the gender gap Alice Nkom: Defending sexual minorities in Cameroon #MarchWithUs: 5 Activists on Dismantling “Gender Lies” Rural women: in the shadow of “growth policies” “Safeguarding” must be survivor-centered and intersectional At a time when the space for protests, both physical and online, is shrinking, Forus sat down with renowned social activist Aruna Roy to discuss the achievements and obstacles when it comes to social justice in India and beyond. Activism is intertwined and each fight cannot be treated in silos. Line Niedeggen, activist and spokesperson for the Fridays For Future in Germany, tells us why intersectionality and representation matter in climate justice movements. For the March With Us campaign, we talk to the Feminisms Group of La Coordinadora; they explain to us what feminist cooperation consists of and of the need for radical transformation in order to rebuild on the basis of fairer and more egalitarian policies. Virtual engagement is biased. Women and girls face hurdles to access technology and need to overcome inherent socio-cultural norms that keep the doors shut when it comes to their ability to step into and influence the digital sphere. In partnership with Connect Humanity, we ask Jane Coffin, Connect Humanity Senior Advisor and Dianne Olivan, gender and digital rights expert, why the online world is still a hostile space for women and how we can change that. As part of the #MarchWithUs campaign, we interviewed UNITAS, Forus member in Bolivia, about the gender twist in their mobilisations and projects. From important women figures in the history of Bolivia, to their recently published book on women human rights defenders UNITAS puts gender at the heart of its actions. Feminist Foreign Policy has been practiced for generations in the Global South. Women in this part of the world have resisted colonialism, practiced food sovereignty, built and nurtured peace, used outer space without encroachment, and educated whole communities even when powerful colonizers and upper caste communities penalized them for it. The context in Saudi Arabia is as hard as ever given that they're basically two Saudi Arabias: one is that which the world sees, and one is underground. It's very difficult to fight for people when the image that the world has of Saudi Arabia has changed. Building upon the #UNmute initiative, Global Focus’ organised a side event to the CSW67, exploring how to ensure inclusive access to decision-making forums for civil society, focusing on women and girls, through safe, universal, and meaningful connectivity. With a fear of intimidation very real in the people’s day-to-day lives, human rights lawyer activist and member of the Youth4Parliament, Ruth Kay Kangwa founded the “Girls Gone Political” movement. Madagascar also has one of the highest rates of sexual violence in the world: one-third of women aged 15-49 have experienced at least one form of gender-based violence. In addition, nearly four out of ten women marry before the age of 18. In terms of work, men earn 37% more than women. Women are also more affected by unemployment than men: they are 20% more likely to be unemployed than men. The country's criminal code has a lot of shortcomings when the rights of people of the LGBTQ community are concerned. This is what prompted Barrister Alice Nkom to choose to fight for the defence of people who have been arrested, mostly arbitrarily, imprisoned and even sentenced without substantial evidence as was the case for Shakiro, a transgender woman imprisoned for several months for "attempted homosexuality". The following opinion piece is part of series to mark the upcoming International Women’s Day, March 8. Gender equality is under the spotlight amidst growing concerns triggered by the Covid-19 crisis, yet there are many women whose stories struggle to… At a time when civic space is shrinking and the importance of a civil society that speaks and acts with integrity and accountability has never been greater, how can we shift from a compliance-oriented approach to safeguarding, to one of genuine cultural and norm change? How can we promote survivor-centered and intersectional approaches?