Women's Environment & Development Organization

The past can teach us what we need in this moment. This International Women's Day, our team chose a few words of wisdom from our founders and feminist leaders that inspire us to press on and rewrite our future. "In the course of history, there comes a time when humanity is called to shift to a new level of consciousness, to reach a higher moral ground. A time when we must shed our fear and give hope to each other. That time is now." – Wangari Maathai, 2004 Nobel Peace Laureate, Environmental and Sociopolitical Activist & Former WEDO Board Member "Never underestimate the importance of what we are doing here. Never hesitate to tell the truth. And never, ever give in or give up." – Bella Abzug, Feminist, Social Activist & WEDO Founder "I am doing the best I can and that to me is what all of us should do. We should be the hummingbird." – Wangari Maathai from the film Dirt! The Movie, watch the full clip: https://bit.ly/4kzMdxv

Last year for #WomensHistoryMonth, Global Greengrants Fund collaborated with Women's Environment & Development Organization and Fondo Centroamericano de Mujeres on a piece for Alliance magazine about the power of #GenderJust #climate action and the urgent need for funding. "We know that?less than?one percent?of all philanthropic funding focuses explicitly on gender and the environment, a shockingly small amount considering the critical role women play in defending territories from environmental degradation, maintaining biodiversity, and mitigating climate change. The climate crisis is not gender neutral; it grows out of a patriarchal system deeply entangled with sexism, racism, ableism, white supremacy, and extractive capitalism. Feminist solutions to the climate crisis exist worldwide and have the potential to transform the very systems of oppression that created the crisis in the first place. However, these solutions are often underrecognized, undervalued, and underfunded. Gender-just climate finance, which is the strategic allocation of resources prioritizing women and minoritized communities in leading climate change solutions that center rights and justice alongside environmental integrity, is urgently needed." This issue is not only still relevant, but more important than ever in these uncertain times. Read the piece ?? https://lnkd.in/dK2456dd

For the next two weeks, the WEDO team will convene and connect with other members of the Women and Gender Constituency, Gender and Environment Data Alliance (GEDA), Women's Major Group, among other partners and gender advocates, at the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (#CSW69). Our team will collectively work to identify how we will mobilize in this moment, how we will hold the line on progress, and where we have opportunities to learn and grow. ?? See where we'll be plugging in and join us at our virtual and in-person events that highlight how gender-environment data reveals implementation gaps of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, while providing essential evidence to hold governments accountable for their commitments and advocate for policies that address women’s unique environmental experiences and realities. #Beijing30 #CSW69 #Agenda2030 #Data4SDGs #GenderData #InclusiveData #ClimateJustice #GenderEquality #CommunityDrivenData #GenderData #EnvironmentData #ClimateData?

Women's Environment & Development Organization has always worked to ensure women’s rights and gender equity both globally and on the local level. As a U.S.-based organization with global presence, we’re currently experiencing renewed efforts to reduce rights — led by our own governments. It’s a powerful reminder that we must always be vigilant and aware of what we’re building and what we’re fighting to hold onto. But this is nothing new. We were formed by a group of extraordinary women in 1990 to uphold the hard-won policy commitments to women’s rights that emerged from the major UN conferences that year. They knew then that it would require ongoing and iterative work to elevate women leaders and ensure that their voices were heard in places of power everywhere. Learn more[a] about how our history informs our current work: impact.wedo.org/past As we face moments like those we’re experiencing today, I take comfort in, and derive inspiration from, the actions and successes of the visionary women who came before us. And I know that our job is to carry their spirit forward. To take action. To continue to create, foster, and strengthen coalitions. To work toward just and healthy societies that serve everyone. If “past is prologue”, then I know that WEDO can continue to advance our cause while fighting to hold onto previous gains — in much the same way our founders did 35 years ago — by working together with allies and strong feminist leaders around the world. If you’re ready to stand strong and push forward, contact me[b] to discuss how we can collaborate on rewriting our future: wedo.org/contact — Photo Credits: Freelance Photographer: Annabelle Avril; Survival Media Agency: Christine Irvine

As a women’s rights organization, advocating for and building coalitions that establish, expand, and protect sexual and reproductive health policies has always been part of our mission. Right now, we see these rights being stripped away across the world, including in the U.S, where we are headquartered. But we’ve seen this before. It’s one of the reasons we led the women’s caucus at the UN Conference on Population and Development in 1994 — to get governments to commit to a 20-year plan to increase investment in women’s reproductive and sexual health, ensure universal primary education, and promote secondary education for girls. Today, we are co-conveners of the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and Climate Justice (SRHR & CJ) Coalition. This global network of more than 100 civil society organizations across over 50 countries is committed to collective action and coordinated advocacy to advance SRHR and gender equality policies at the intersection of climate- and gender-justice. Alongside sexual and reproductive rights champions Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW), global women and girls bodily autonomy advocates Women Deliver, and reproductive justice organization Ipas, we help bring the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and the Climate Justice organizations and movements together to create greater progress and produce more significant results than any of us can achieve alone. If you are engaged in introducing, advancing, expanding, and protecting sexual and reproductive health policies for women and girls, we encourage you to reach out to us to see how we can work together. At WEDO, we are committed to protecting the advances that have been made, working to restore rights that have been lost, and advancing new policies that improve the lives of women and girls everywhere. Join us. It is only through coalitions and collective action that we can stand against the global forces that aim to turn back the clock. — Photo Credits: Freelance Photographer: Annabelle Avril | Survival Media Agency: ?Christine Irvine #GenderJustice #WomensRights #WomensHealth #ClimateJustice #ReproductiveRights

WEDO has always worked to ensure #WomensRights and #GenderEquity both globally and on the local level. As a U.S.-based organization with a global presence, we’re currently experiencing renewed efforts to reduce rights — led by our own governments. It’s a powerful reminder that we must always be vigilant and aware of what we’re building and what we’re fighting to hold onto. But this is nothing new. We were formed by a group of extraordinary women in 1990 to uphold the hard-won policy commitments to women’s rights that emerged from the major UN conferences that year. They knew then that it would require ongoing and iterative work to elevate #WomenLeaders and ensure that their voices were heard in places of power everywhere. Learn more about how our history informs our current work at impact.wedo.org/past. As we face moments like those we’re experiencing today, we take comfort in, and derive inspiration from, the actions and successes of the visionary women who came before us. And at WEDO, we know that it is our job to carry their spirit forward. To take action. To continue to create, foster, and strengthen coalitions. To work toward just and healthy societies that serve everyone. If “past is prologue”, then we know that WEDO can continue to advance our cause while fighting to hold onto previous gains — in much the same way our founders did 35 years ago — by working together with allies and strong feminist leaders around the world. If you’re ready to stand strong and push forward, reach out to discuss how we can collaborate on rewriting our future: wedo.org/contact-us. — Photo Credits: Freelance Photographer: Annabelle Avril; Survival Media Agency: ?Christine Irvine

This past year, let alone these past weeks and months, have tested the willpower of our global coalitions. Political turmoil, intensifying climate disasters, and the clear erosion of women’s rights around the world shined a bright — and often searing — light on the need for our work. If you believe in a future that prioritizes #justice, #equality, and #sustainability for all, read our 2024 Impact Report. Discover stories of leadership, a shared vision, and the concrete steps WEDO is taking to shape a healthier, more equitable future. #FeministClimateJustice?#FeministEconomicJustice?#GenderJustice?#EconomicJustice?#ClimateJustice

Join our colleagues at MENAFem's first annual Feminist Economics School in May in Rabat! To be followed by a global feminist gathering - more info soon :)

?? Join us tomorrow to hear from feminist leaders about the progress and challenges in realizing economic and climate justice with a focus on: 1) debt, 2) the Bretton Woods Institutions (the World Bank and International Monetary Fund), 3) taxation, and 4) climate finance. ?? The webinar will be interpreted in Arabic, French, Spanish, and Kenya Sign Language. ?? The report is available in Arabic,?French,?English,?and?Spanish: economictrends.wedo.org. #ClimateJustice #EconomicJustice #FeministClimateJustice #FeministEconomicJustice #ClimateFinance

The ground is shifting beneath our feet. But as it shifts, so do we. Read below a letter from our Executive Director Bridget K. Burns: "Across movements, across borders, we are witnessing the unraveling of hard-fought gains. The backlash is coordinated, strategic, and global—driven by white supremacy, patriarchy, and authoritarianism seeking to consolidate power by deepening inequality and division. But organizations like WEDO were built for moments like this. Resistance is not just a reaction; it is a practice, a way of being in the world. And right now, more than anything, we need solidarity—not just to resist, but to fight for true liberation." ?? Here’s what we’re focusing on right now, and ways you can get involved: ? Mobilizing resources to frontline feminist groups under attack ? Building bigger, bolder coalitions that connect movements across issues and geographies ? Holding power accountable—tracking policy rollbacks, amplifying frontline voices, and refusing to cede ground ?? What’s on your mind? How can we support each other in this moment? Let’s be in conversation. Read the full letter and action steps here: ??