Every day, women activists all over the world meet some form of discrimination, threats, violence or harassment. Why? Because they are women. Every day, despite the resistance they meet, these women keep on fighting for gender equality and women’s rights. Why? Because they are not only women, but also the bravest women in the world! November 29 is femdefenders day – a day to celebrate young women’s rights defenders all over the world.
Every year, the swedish organization Kvinna till Kvinna recognize women that defend and fight for their and their sisters human rights. In the 2015 femdefenders campaign, special attention is given to young women’s rights activists. Many of these young women are expected to live up to certain gender stereotypical roles, such as “good housewifes” that obey their men. Many of them don’t even have the right to education or to decide over their own bodies.
In Kvinna till Kvinnas Young Women’s Peace Academy, inspiring femdefenders all over the world meet each other, exchange expiriences and strategies and create a network to increase women’s rights. They come from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Kosovo, Serbia and Sweden. They fight against gennder roles and socially created expectations. Their ultimate goal is to create a peaceful and gender equal world where everyone, despite gender, have the opportunity to make decisions that impact their future. Together, femdefenders can change the world.
