Movement building and solidarity in feminist spaces in the Global South

Movement building and solidarity in feminist spaces in the Global South

Solidarity is one of the most debated concepts in activism in general. It has often been invoked as an important, even imperative, response in recent years to the rise of concerns such as environmental crises and climate change, the anti-racial movement, homophobia and, above all, the feminist cause. That's why many feminists are constantly calling for solidarity because “ it's only when we work together and take collective action that we can create the Solutions needed to advance gender equality and improve the wellbeing of girls and women, in all their intersecting identities''[1] , said Dr Maliha Khan, Women Deliver President and CEO. In this sense, feminist solidarity represents a united and connected movement that collaborates and cooperates across differences of history, identity, color, class and geographical location. When it comes to the Global South, solidarity is all the more relevant as statistics show that these countries have the highest rates of discrimination and gender inequality. In Africa, women suffer the highest levels of discriminatory practices in the world[2] .A study carried out by Inter-American Development Bank [3] ??revealed that there are significant gender gaps in the business world in Latin America and the Caribbean, where the rate of women is higher in lower positions (36%) than in higher positions (25%).

Building feminist solidarity within countries

At national level, feminist solidarity followed by collective action has been understood and integrated in different actions. What were once individual initiatives are now part of a vast intergenerational movement. Consequently, the range of actions undertaken in favor of women's rights is increasingly attracting the attention of individuals and organizations defending the feminist cause. The Women's March in Lusaka organized since 2019 by the NGO Sistah Sistah Foundation is a flagship moment of the Zambian feminist movement that gathers every year feminists, youth and children to protest against sexual and gender- based violence against women and girls.

This solidarity is creating a collective awareness of these issues, warning policy-makers about violence and influencing the next generation of young girls. In Mexico, thousands of women took to the streets in March 2022 to demand an end to gender-based murders, which they say are rooted in a macho culture, and to urge the government to do more to protect them.

Bringing together individuals and feminist organizations around solid continental alliances

Through different actions, feminists try to build a strong network of feminists at regional level. Consequently, feminist coalitions, networks and alliances have been formed to exchange knowledge, resources, and support, strengthening the collective power of feminist movements in the Global South. The African Women's Development and Communications Network is a membership-based network of 843 Organization and Individual Members. The pan African structure acts as a facilitator to amplify women's voices and actions. The Southeast Asian Feminist Action Movement (SEAFAM), made up of feminist organizations and communities from Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia works to defend human rights and democracy in the region from a feminist perspective.

Reshaping feminist solidarity through social media

The solidarity and enthusiasm for feminism has also been made possible by the rise of digital tools, which have enabled feminists to connect and organize. With this evolution of social media, positions taken by feminist organizations in the Global South and their voices are increasingly being heard around the world. In this sense, hashtags they create spark?global conversations and help?to shed light on the pervasive nature of gender-based violence and discrimination, creating pathways for healing, justice and action.#BringBackOurGirls [4] movement moved the whole world when, in 2016, 276 Nigerian girls were abducted from their school by the Boko Haram terrorist group. This movement is today a massive global campaign demanding their return.

The #Metoo movement founded in 2006 by Tarana Burke with the aim of bringing resources and supporting survivors of sexual violence[5]?went viral in 2017 especially in the Global South, becoming an important catalyst for feminist mobilizations around the world.

Social media has also facilitated the rapid spread of information, making it easier to organize protests, campaigns, and solidarity actions across different regions. The #NiUnaMenos translated to "Not One [Woman] Less"?was born in Argentina after the murder of 14-year-old Chiara Paez, found buried under her boyfriend's house in 2015, because she wanted to keep the baby and he didn't. This movement against femicide and gender based violence grew from the streets of Argentina into a regional women's movement in Latin America. Following this, feminist solidarity has gained ground in this region.

Developing partnerships between feminist organizations

In addition to this, feminist movements have increasingly embraced global solidarity, recognizing the interconnections and similarities of struggles across different regions. This solidarity is evident in campaigns and collective actions addressing issues like sexist stereotypes, gender-based violence, sexual and reproductive rights, and economic inequalities. In Morocco, the Women4Leadership project organized by Politics4Her involved Moroccan feminists and feminist organizations based in Morocco, such as Concealed Narratives (a local youth-led initiative to raise awareness of GBV, promote mental, sexual and reproductive health and rights), AMPF (the Moroccan Family Planning Association, which provides and facilitates access to sexual and reproductive health services) and 7achak Morocco ( a feminist media and a movement to raise awareness of period poverty, a highly taboo topic in the country).

The great movement of feminist leagues in French-speaking African countries began in C?te d'Ivoire with the creation of the “Ligue Ivoirienne des Droits des Femmes”. It has spread to Mali and Chad, demonstrating feminist solidarity in the fight against violence against women.

In addition to this, feminist movements have also sought to build collaborative partnerships with other social justice movements, recognizing the interconnected nature of various issues such as climate justice and racial discrimination.?By joining forces with other movements, feminists have been able to create broader structures that amplify their collective demands and foster solidarity. They work at the intersection of diverse issues, understanding that at their core, they are all deeply interconnected. We can see how the feminist climate justice movement is emerging in the Caribbean[6] , Asia, Latin America and Pacific. ?By tackling the root causes of climate and gender injustice, the movement is challenging the neo-liberal economic and capitalist system that is destroying the environment and severely affecting women.

Overall, the movement building and solidarity within feminist spaces are important in expanding the impact of the feminist activism. By using new technologies, fostering global solidarity, and building collaborative partnerships, feminists in the Global South have been able to build stronger movements and bring meaningful change.

?

[1] Women Deliver Conference 2023

[2] OCDE, SIGI 2021 Regional Report for Africa available here https://www.oecd.org/dev/sigi-2021-regional-report-for-africa-a6d95d90-en.htm

[3] Inter-American Development Bank, Study reveals high gender inequality in companies in Latin America and the Caribbean, August 2021 available here https://www.iadb.org/en/news/study-reveals-high-gender-inequality-companies-latin-america-and-caribbean

[4] Bring Back Our Girls

[5] Me Too Movement

[6] https://www.globalfundforwomen.org/movements/climate-justice-in-caribbean/

?