"Flying Towards Justice: Breaking Barriers of Power and Division—Let's Rethink the Future for All, with All"

As a woman of colour and an advocate for systemic justice, I find myself on a metaphorical plane every day, seated at the very back in Economy D class.

It’s not just a seat assignment; it’s a reflection of the systems of power, privilege, and exclusion that shape the world we live in.

Imagine yourself in this seat, cramped in the farthest row. You can barely stretch your legs, let alone see where the plane is headed. Meanwhile, at the front of the plane, behind a heavy curtain, sits Business Class. There, decisions are made, information is shared, and power is exchanged. It’s more than just a division of comfort and luxury—it’s a clear line between those who control the narrative and those who are impacted by it but are left in the dark.

This curtain, thick and opaque, symbolizes the boundaries placed on access to information, power, and influence. While those seated in the front lounge in their spacious seats, attending meetings at international summits and making decisions about the future of our world, many of us in the back wonder: Who truly holds the power to decide the future we all share? And why is the future being shaped by so few when the consequences affect so many?

In this class system of decision-making, it’s not just about who is comfortable—it’s about who gets a voice. At global summits on the future of our planet, like those on climate change or world economic policies, a handful of elites in the "Business Class" sit at the table, engaging in discussions about our future. Meanwhile, many of us—activists, advocates, women of colour, refugees, and marginalized communities—sit at the back, left wondering whether our voices will be heard, or even invited into the conversation.

But this division isn’t just limited to global forums. It mirrors a wider system of exclusion that plays out every day in boardrooms, governments, and institutions. People of colour, women, Indigenous communities, refugees, People on the MOVE and countless others are often placed at the back of the metaphorical plane, our expertise and lived experiences overlooked or dismissed. We’re given just enough information to know the plane is in the air but kept in the dark about its direction. We feel the turbulence, yet we are rarely consulted on how to avoid it.

The truth is, this system thrives on keeping power concentrated at the front while obscuring transparency from those in the back. Just as in the airplane, where the division is designed to keep certain people comfortable and others out of view, systems of inequality are structured to maintain the status quo, ensuring that the voices of the marginalized remain unheard.

Yet, the irony is glaring. While the world’s elite may sit in Business Class, making decisions for the rest of us, the people in Economy D are the ones who hold the keys to true progress. We are the ones who live the reality of their policies, who understand the needs of our communities, who know what’s at stake when the plane hits turbulence. And it’s our voices, perspectives, and wisdom that are crucial to building a just and equitable future for all.

As we look towards the future—towards summits, conferences, and forums where decisions about our planet are being made—it’s clear that the power dynamics must shift. The curtain of separation must be torn down. We need to be in the room where decisions are made, not merely as spectators but as active participants, co-pilots shaping the course.

Systemic justice cannot be achieved if we remain seated at the back, our voices silenced by the roar of engines controlled by the few. We are not passive passengers on this flight—we are agents of change, ready to challenge the systems that keep us excluded and reclaim our rightful place at the table.

As I sit in Economy D, I remind myself and all of us in the back rows that our power lies in our unity, resilience, and refusal to be ignored. The journey towards justice may be long and turbulent, but together, we can change the course of this flight. The future of our world does not belong to the few in Business Class. It belongs to all of us, and it’s time we claim it.

A Pact for Us, Not Just the Privileged Few

Yes, Summit of the Future is being hailed as a pivotal moment—an opportunity to rethink how the world tackles global challenges. But as I sit in the back row of this metaphorical plane, I can’t help but wonder: Whose future is being decided here?

For many of us—refugees, women, marginalized communities—the decisions that shape our future often feel like they are made behind a curtain of privilege, a barrier that keeps the powerful in control while the rest of us are left wondering about our place in the world.

The Curtain of Separation At this summit, global elites will gather, separated by what feels like an impenetrable curtain of power and privilege. The rich and powerful sit in their version of Business Class, making decisions that will impact the world while the less privileged—people of colour, refugees, Indigenous peoples—remain behind the curtain, without access to the information or influence they need to shape their future.

This curtain symbolizes something deeper: the inequality in decision-making and the selective sharing of information. Without transparency, accountability, and inclusion, decisions about the future are made by a few, while the rest of us are left to deal with the consequences.

A Future Divided We’ve seen this before global leaders gather, decisions are made, and statements of progress are issued. But for those of us on the margins, these decisions often feel disconnected from our realities. The future is shaped for us but not with us.

At the Summit of the Future, there’s a risk that this same pattern will repeat itself. The Pact for the Future, rather than serving all people, could become a pact for the privileged—a future designed for those in power, leaving behind those who need change the most. We cannot let this happen.

Rethink, Recheck, and Transform If we truly want transformation, we need to rethink and recheck the systems that allow power to remain concentrated in the hands of a few. Real change requires inclusion. It means valuing the voices of refugees, women, people of color, and those from underprivileged communities.

The Pact for the Future cannot simply be a high-level agreement made behind closed doors. It must be a pact for the people, by the people. If we are serious about addressing global challenges like climate change, inequality, and conflict, we need to ensure that those who have been historically excluded are not only included but lead the way.

A Call to Action This summit is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rethink how we approach global decision-making. We cannot leave the future divided between the privileged and the less privileged. The future must be a shared vision that belongs to all of us.

I invite you to join me and New Women Connectors in our movement for systemic justice. We are launching our Leading Resilience series, a movement that began during the isolation of COVID-19 with initiatives like #Coping2Gather, and #Growing2Gather. This is not just a project or programme—it’s a new way of living.

It’s a call to balance equity, foster connection, and rebuild trust through meaningful participation. https://www.newwomenconnectors.com/ourapproaches

The Future Belongs to All of Us Together, let’s ensure that the Summit of the Future doesn’t repeat the mistakes of the past. Let’s work to create a Pact for the Future that serves everyone—not just the privileged few. We need to build spaces of power where no one is left behind, where the voices of refugees, women, and marginalized communities are not just heard but lead the charge for a future of equity and justice.

The future doesn’t belong to the elite. It belongs to all of us. Let’s take it back.

United Nations New Women Connectors