Voices
“We say in Guatemala, we are fighting, but we are not the only ones. There are many Indigenous women in other countries, as well, and at the global level, that are fighting for the integral development of women, and for peace and justice.”
Ana Ceto Chàvez Coordinator, MUIXIL
“To achieve gender equality for all women, we must all be included. So, it’s important to shed light on the issues of transgender women, who are rendered invisible and are rejected from being women in their diversity.”
Ana Flavia Chávez Pedraza President,
Peruvian Trans Movement of Arequipa
“Unless we can create space for Haitian voices, especially women’s voices, in policies that affect them, Haiti will continue to suffer. For true recovery to happen, the US must take responsibility for some of the abusive conditions in Haiti.”
Carine Jocelyn Founder, Haitian Women's Collective
“Being a feminist woman and fighting for more intersectional spaces means taking on a challenge, a consistent, daily challenge because you know there are many difficulties to overcome. There are also many women to meet who offer you opportunities, spaces, and, above all, to work as a collective.”
Estefanía Cubillos Nova Young Feminist Disabilities Activist, Panama
“Climate destruction is a reality. We want the women to be equipped to deal with drought and other threats.”
Fatima Ahmed President, Zenab for Women in Development
“MADRE and its supporters saved my life and the lives of my children…Thank God for the connection to the sisterhood and the feminist activists, when Kabul fell to the Taliban. Because of their solidarity, I finally received help”
Jamila Afghani Afghan Human Rights Defender
“How do women heal from these atrocities? By connecting to each other. I started to link survivors together and build relationships between them through self-help groups and other activities. Once connected, these women were able to build a new community in the face of being shunned by their own.”
Julienne Lusenge President, Female Solidarity for Integrated Peace and Development
“We do not have any other option but to resist”
Leyla Andrea Arroyo Muñoz Founding Member, Proceso de Comunidades Negras
“Building movements has been the most successful thing. We give each other strength and we give each other hope. We are not alone. Being together and working together gives you more strength. Indigenous women succeed a lot because we have sisterhood.”
Lucy Mulenkei Executive Director, Indigenous Information Network
“A group of local activist women organized a toy drive for children of fathers martyred in the rebellion against the regime, but also for the children of fathers killed on the regime’s side. This shows how women actively oppose division, even during conflict, to fight for an equal country.”
Dr. Maria Al Abdeh Executive Director, Women Now for Development
“In each crisis, women peacebuilders have the experience to deal with social cohesion, racism, and hatred – and highlight and support community togetherness, which is so important for preventing violence.”
Muna Luqman Founder and Chair, Food for Humanity
“When we talk of women’s rights, we’re not just talking about women. We’re talking about families. We have to teach our children. As a child, my son saw me and other women working for peace and fighting for our rights. He learned from us. Now, he’s an activist too, fighting for the rights of women and families in Nicaragua.”
Rose Cunningham Kain Founder and Director, Wangki Tangni
“We have a commitment to the construction of peace in Colombia. The processes that Taller de Vida has built have allowed us survivors, of the armed conflict, to empower ourselves and to have the strength and the capacity to be in key spaces in the construction of peace.”
Stella Duque Executive Director, Taller de Vida
“Because of Mother Earth and our ancestors, we are alive and enjoying awesome nature. Now Mother Earth is getting sick, so we need to save her. The only way to save Mother Earth is to respect Indigenous Peoples’ collective way of life, which is connected closely to land, territory, and resources.”
Yasso Bhattachan Founding Member and Vice Chair, National Indigenous Women’s Forum
