MADRE

In her piece for African Arguments, Julienne Lusenge breaks down the impact of the war in the DRC and the Southern African Development Community's responsibility to protect communities.

"We are witnessing the destruction and dehumanisation of an entire people."

DR Congo quagmire poses an existential question to Southern Africa’s leaders | African Arguments Engineering a permanent state of conflict in eastern Congo ensures the continued flow of minerals into the bloodstream of global capitalism. SADC must protect the lives of the people.

Haiti's transitional government has the opportunity to include the perspectives and leadership of Haitian women and girls in decision-making spaces, says Pascale Solages and Sasha Flippova in their co-written piece for The New Humanitarian.

"Haiti’s women have never been passive victims. The Haitian women’s movement has long organised to advance women’s dignity and equality. And Haitian women are doing so again."

—

Pascale Solages is the Co-founder and general coordinator of NÈGÈS MAWON, a feminist organisation based in Haiti, and MADRE Partner.

Sasha Filippova is a Human rights lawyer working for the Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti (IJDH).

Artwork by Dashka-Rheyna, an artist and member of NÈGÈS MAWON

https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/opinion/2024/09/04/what-haiti-political-transition-should-be-doing-and-isnt-women

MADRE joins a list of Afghan, international, and civil society organizations, calling on the UN Human Rights Council to establish a parallel and complementary independent mechanism to investigate, analyze, and demand accountability for human rights violations, including the crimes against humanity of gender persecution, in Afghanistan. https://www.madre.org/afghanistan/

"I write on behalf of all the women of the DRC. We women who are bearing the brunt of a war we did not start; a war we do not want; a war in which our children’s futures are being stolen."

Read more from Sofepadi President Julienne Lusenge in African Arguments

DR Congo quagmire poses an existential question to Southern Africa’s leaders | African Arguments Engineering a permanent state of conflict in eastern Congo ensures the continued flow of minerals into the bloodstream of global capitalism. SADC must protect the lives of the people.

With fossil fuel companies celebrating profits of over $200 billion, communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis are experiencing the brunt of the repercussions in the form of fires, droughts, poisonous gases, & floods.

It's time for change.

We can power our future by breaking free from the tyranny of fossil fuels The upcoming Summit of the Future is an opportunity to shift our path away from fossil fuels.

Economic sanctions are a form of collective punishment that forces vulnerable communities to suffer more under their governments – it is warfare. “Civilian suffering is not merely an incidental cost of these policies, but often their very intent."

We join the call demanding the US . https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/business/company-news/2024/08/12/us-surge-in-financial-sanctions-called-inhumane-by-lawyer-groups/

On the second anniversary of the Taliban takeover, we spoke with Arash Azizzada of Afghans For A Better Tomorrow and MADRE Policy & Campaign Manager Kate Alexander about the challenges of women, girls, and civil society in its aftermath, and holding the US accountable to Afghans for its role in the uprising.

"The Taliban, right now, is committing deep, deep crimes, trying to erase Afghan women from the public sphere, from the economy. So it's such a unique case of gender apartheid... it's almost unparalleled."

Watch "After the Takeover: Afghanistan Two Years Later" on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CyGryI_sBkj/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Anti-LGBTQIA+ sentiment puts communities at risk of violence, discrimination, and more. A world without hate is possible, and one Tanzanian le***an organizer shares with us her vision of what that could be.

"I hope for a future without discrimination, where everyone lives without fear of being judged. I want supportive and inclusive communities, a cleaner environment, better health, more love, and less hate, where everyone feels valued and accepted."

Following the Taliban's rise back into power came the rollback of women's rights and access to public spaces, including salons — which now operate in secrecy. “The only island of freedom that remained collapsed in front of my eyes."

‘An island of freedom’: Inside the secret beauty salons of Afghanistan In Kabul, an army of clandestine beauticians is keeping morale alive for women under the Taliban-led government.

In May, over 40 advocates, health professionals, and experts came together in Winnipeg and for the second in a series of convenings to develop recommendations for the Principles on the Crime of Gender Persecution.

Read more about our second convening in Winnipeg: https://bit.ly/3XezGGm

While Congress is in recess, children in Gaza haven’t had a respite from violence, displacement, and hunger for 10 months. Gaza’s children, just like American children, deserve safety, joy, and rest.

https://armssalesaccountabilityproject.com/take-action/

Spending half her life as a refugee, Jamila Afghani, Founder and President of WILPF Afghanistan and MADRE partner, is mobilizing for a feminist peace for women and girls.

"I don’t remember a single day in that there was no bomb blast or there was no fighting or shooting or firing. That feeling always pushed me to work for peace. I should not let my children or the new generation of the country suffer from the same trauma that I have been dealing with."

Read WILPF's full interview: "Q&A with Jamila Afghani on Mobilising for Feminist Peace in Afghanistan and the challenges of working after the Taliban take-over" https://www.wilpf.org/qa-with-jamila-afghani-on-mobilising-for-feminist-peace-in-afghanistan-and-the-challenges-of-working-after-the-taliban-take-over/

Thousands of children in Gaza have been orphaned by Israeli bombardment, losing entire families with such frequency that doctors have created a new acronym unique to Gaza: “WCNSF – Wounded Child, No Surviving Family.”

Tell Congress:
https://armssalesaccountabilityproject.com/take-action/

Three years into a regime that UN experts and global activists have referred to as "gender apartheid," the Alliance for Human Rights in Afghanistan calls on the international community to hold the Taliban accountable, including for the persecution targeting women, girls, and/including LGBTQIA+ people.

Read our full statement: https://www.madre.org/afghanistan/

Since 2018, MADRE has helped test legal understandings of gender-based persecution and expand its definition.

With our partners, we're ensuring global accountability for gender persecution. https://www.madre.org/40-years-of-gender-justice/

Justice for Afghan women, girls, & LGBTQIA+ people means ensuring justice for gender persecution, and codification of gender apartheid with an inclusive definition in the Crimes Against Humanity Treaty.

Take action:

Firma la petizione Recognize Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan as a Crime Against Humanity

For 21 years, MUIXIL has changed the lives of thousands of Indigenous Guatemalan women and girls, helping their community recover from the horrors of genocide, advocating for their rights, and building their skills as community leaders. https://www.madre.org/partner/muixil/

Advance justice for Afghan women, girls, and LGBTQIA+ people with gender persecution accountability & the codification of gender apartheid with an inclusive definition.

Call on the United Nations to codify Gender Apartheid as a crime👇🏾

Firma la petizione Recognize Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan as a Crime Against Humanity

🚨 Now hiring: Design and Video Consultant

The deadline for applications is August 12th.
https://bit.ly/4d6pSDh

We believe better is possible. With our partners, we work to inspire lasting change around the world and across generations for everyone.

As Lauren Dasse, Senior Director of Advocacy & Policy, shares: "We're building towards gender justice. We're building toward a world where every woman, girl, and member of the LGBTQIA+ community of any gender feels safe and respected and has joy and peace in their lives.".

We couldn't agree more.

It has been 16 months since the war between militaries began in Sudan and created the world's largest internal displacement crisis, leaving half the population in urgent need of humanitarian aid and communities facing famine.

Global food monitor says famine has taken hold in Sudan's Darfur The war in Sudan and restrictions on aid deliveries have caused famine in at least one site in North Darfur, and have likely led to famine conditions in other parts of the conflict region, a committee of food security experts said in a report on Thursday.

🇧🇷 Parabéns, Rebeca!

Rebeca Andrade's outstanding journey to the Olympics🥈 was an effort brought together by passion, family, community support, and accessible programs committed to providing opportunities and making history.

How a bunk bed acrobat from a favela in Brazil became the #2 female gymnast in the world Rebeca Andrade grew up one of 8 kids raised by a single mom. At age 4, she showed off at a gym tryout. After her silver medal in the Paris Olympics, Brazil is hailing her as a "national treasure."

Politics4Her and Associazione di Solidarietà Donne per le Donne are calling for codification of gender apartheid in the draft Crimes Against Humanity Treaty.

Join an international movement demanding justice and equality for Afghan women and girls.

Firma la petizione Recognize Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan as a Crime Against Humanity

What's the first word you think of when you think of MADRE? Is it radical? Is it feminist? Is it grassroots?

We asked this question of our community, and their responses make clear the impact of our four-decade-long legacy.

🗣️ Double it and give back to global grassroots organizations!

Today's the last day of our summer match challenge, and a group of generous donors are matching EVERY gift — up to $80,000 — until midnight.

Give today: MADRE.org/matched

🎨 "Graphic design is my life."

So show us! MADRE is looking for a Design & Video Consultant to help amplify our work.

Could that be you?

Visit MADRE.org/careers to find out more and submit your application by August 12th.

Following the US invasion of Afghanistan, we began our work with Afghan communities, providing humanitarian relief to women and families.

Today, we continue our work with our partners to achieve gender justice and safety. https://bit.ly/3zR6Tyq

We're looking for a Design and Video Consultant!

Visit MADRE.org/careers for more information.
Must submit all materials by August 12th.