In the 2017/18 elections in Nepal, 7,000 Dalit women entered politics for the very first time. A seismic shift in the representation of women and Dalit women in key decision-making spaces and a major step towards true democracy and gender equality in Nepal.

In the last general election in Nepal in November 2022, a movement of women ran for election backed by their communities, and many won. However not a single woman with disabilities was elected to federal parliament in 2022.

Women with disabilities continue to face significant barriers to genuine participation in decisions that affect them. Social stigma, discrimination and deeply rooted patriarchal norms limit the opportunities afforded to women with disabilities to engage in politics. Economic, educational and accessibility barriers further hinder their participation. Alongside this, political parties rarely prioritise the inclusion of women with disabilities in leadership roles.

Nepal will once again go to the poles on 5 March 2026. Ahead of the election, Womankind partner Nepal Disabled Women Association (NDWA) share their demands for sustained commitment and real action from political parties to ensure Nepal’s democratic processes are inclusive and accessible and the needs of women with disabilities are prioritized. This includes:

Electoral Participation and Accessibility

• Meaningful participation, leadership, and representation of persons with disabilities in governance process
• Participation and inclusion of persons with disabilities in all levels of government, from local to federal.
• A special mechanism put in place to ensure youth with disabilities are represented at the local level Women’s Provision.

NDWA also calls on all political parties to meaningfully include commitments to persons with disabilities in their manifestos, including:

Sexual and gender-based violence prevention and response

• Effective facilitation and management of gender-based violence desks and ring-fenced gender-based violence prevention funds at the local level.
• Provisions to ensure the safety of women and girls with disabilities including through targeted programmes such as free self-defense and self-protection training, given the increased risk they face of gender-based and sexual violence

Economic Support

• Adjustment to social security allowance for persons with disabilities based on their type of disability and needs.
• Improvement to skill development, capacity building and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities so that they can gain economic independence and contribute to the state through taxes. Participation of women with disabilities should be ensured in every training small and/or cottage industries.
• Local employment, and startup and innovation support for youth with disabilities.
• 50 percent exemption should be provided on registration fees and tax rates for self-employment and enterprises run by persons with disabilities. Provision should be made for employers to receive tax exemption of at 10-50 percent for opening opportunities for employees with disabilities.
• Additional arrangements should be made for the promotion and marketing of businesses and products run by persons with disabilities.

Health and Wellbeing Support

• Immediate provision of personal assistant and caregiver services for people who need them, as per the directive order of the supreme court.
• Free health insurance should be made available to all persons with disabilities and life insurance provided for those with [1] where required.
• Rehabilitation and assistive technology: quality assistive devices (wheelchairs, white canes, hearing aids) should be free and accessible based on individual assessments.

Legal support

• Free and effective legal aid for disabled people, gender and sexual minorities, and economically marginalised communities.
• Guardianship, care and support provided by the state to persons with disabilities without guardians and custodians. This can be ensured by robust systems for social participation and rehabilitation home referrals.

Alongside raising these demands, throughout the electoral period, NDWA in coordination with the Forum for Women, Law and Development (FWLD) will be conducting voter education campaigns. These will raise awareness among voters to vote correctly and efficiently, ensuring that their voices will be heard in the democratic process.

Alongside their calls for real commitments to accessibility and inclusion by all political parties, NDWA team members will also be participating as trained election observers focusing on gender equality, disability and social inclusion. These observers are specially trained to ensure the rights of women, gender and sexual minorities, youth, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, religious and linguistic minorities and other marginalised groups are upheld throughout the nomination and election campaign process, on voting day and during vote counting and results announcement.

Nepal Disabled Women Association (NDWA) are a disabled-women led organisation, supporting women with disabilities to pursue their rights, provide them with protection and livelihood support.

[1] Per the Rights Act, in Nepal Severely Disabled refers to a person who faces extreme difficulty in performing daily activities, even with the continuous assistance from others.

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After Sunita Foundation’s founder Sunita Danuwar passed away in 2025, Swostika Danuwar is continuing her mother’s legacy of activism. Her story shows the power of intergenerational feminist work.

Sunita Foundation has been supported by Womankind Worldwide’s Her Voice Fund (HVF) since 2023.

HVF provides flexible funding to women’s rights and feminist organisations and activists. With an intersectional focus, the fund supports advocacy efforts to influence policy at local, national, regional and international levels. Launched in 2021, the fund has supported feminist groups and women rights organisations in Ethiopia, Kenya, Nepal, Uganda, and Zimbabwe with a total of £1,568,687 in 98 grants. Sunita Foundation focuses on mental health and psychosocial support for trafficking survivors along with advocacy to end trafficking.

With support from HVF, Sunita Foundation has advocated for policies that facilitate the social and economic integration of survivors while ensuring their mental health needs are prioritised. They are pushing for long-term support systems that include job training and opportunities. Swostika and her team are advocating for trauma-informed care at health centres and making mental health services accessible to survivors in rural and high-risk areas.

HVF gave Sunita Foundation the space to focus on influencing local laws governing reintegration efforts, alongside promoting workshops for officials to enhance their ability to support survivors effectively.  Sunita Foundation align their advocacy with community needs, creating an environment that not only holistically supports survivors to rebuild their lives but addresses systemic barriers for trafficking survivors in Nepal too.

Learn more about Sunita Foundation.

Learn more about Her Voice Fund.

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As the founder of Womankind Worldwide, Sir Alec recognised that women are a force to be reckoned with when they come together. This shaped our early direction and 36 years later we are still backing women’s rights collectively and heralding them to a feminist future that is just and joyful.

”On International Women’s Day, 8 March 1989, we launched Womankind Worldwide. Reed Foundation provided funding enabling the organisation to establish itself. Through the dedication of a large number of people, Womankind has come a long way in the last 25 years, and I am really proud to be the founder and a life-long supporter.”  –

Sir Alec Reed, Founder, speaking at Womankind’s 25th Anniversary

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From online harassment and cyberstalking to deepfakes and digital surveillance, technology has become a weapon of control and intimidation. Womankind’s B+30 Review Report emphasises that in many instances, the violence all women and girls face online is rooted in the same societal norms that drive violence against women more broadly, including patriarchal structures, misogyny, and discriminatory beliefs. 

Thirty years ago, when the BPfA laid the groundwork for progress in legal protections, social awareness, and support services, it could not have foreseen the digital revolution, a transformation that has created new avenues for harm. Today, technology amplifies old forms of abuse and introduces novel threats that remain largely unregulated, leaving women and girls vulnerable in spaces increasingly central to their social, economic, and political lives.  

Tech is moving fast as BPfA is slowly catching up

Womankind Worldwide’s policy brief: Disrupting the Continuum of TFGBV highlights that digital platforms are typically developed under patriarchal structures, with the implicit assumption that users will be passive recipients rather than active participants. This oversight not only limits the functionality and accessibility of technology for marginalized groups but also embeds gender biases within the very systems meant to empower them. 

”BPfA set out a bold international plan to eradicate violence against all women and girls, urging governments, civil society, and global institutions to take firm action. It acknowledged that violence is a major obstacle to equality and development and, for the first time, provided a framework for accountability. While many legal protections, awareness campaigns, and support services have improved, the rise of digital technologies has opened new, largely unregulated frontiers for abuse.”

A UNFPA study on TFGBV found that 85 per cent of women globally have experienced or witnessed online violence. Beijing+30 is therefore not only a moment to celebrate progress but a critical opportunity to expand the agenda, placing the digital dimension at the centre of the global fight for gender equality. 

TFGBV takes many forms with sexual minorities, women journalists, activists, and public figures often bearing the brunt of coordinated online attacks. These abuses are not only psychologically damaging but can also limit women’s participation in public life, erode confidence, and silence voices that are essential for social change.  

Women’s experience online is being reduced to pervasive violence

In Kenya, reports indicate that the rise of online gender-based violence has pushed some women out of politics and leadership roles as they face extreme harassment, including threats and derogatory comments, especially when they challenge traditional roles. In contrast, in Ethiopia, cases of TFGBV, are often overlooked, minimized, or politically manipulated, distorting the narratives around these issues and impeding progress towards ending TFGBV.  

Similar trends are observed in Afghanistan, where women activists, journalists, and public figures who speak out online face online harassment that sometimes escalates to physical attacks and, in extreme cases, murder. These examples drawn from Womankind’s policy brief on TFGBV, illustrate how TFGBV operates across different contexts, undermining women’s participation and agency in both public and private spheres. When it comes to intersectionality, Amnesty International underscores that in Uganda, for instance, LGBTQIA+ people avoid reporting TFGBV or seeking assistance from the police as they fear being blackmailed, outed, or even arrested under laws that criminalizes their existence. Womankind’s B+30 Review Report asserts that addressing digital inequalities and protecting women in online spaces are necessary steps for advancing BPfA goals in an increasingly digital world. 

An intersectional feminist approach to tackle TfGBV

Addressing TFGBV requires urgent, coordinated action at multiple levels. The urgent need for international governance frameworks and enforcement mechanisms to reflect the realities of digital abuse. 

Civil society and feminist organizations play a critical role in documenting abuses, supporting survivors, and advocating for inclusive, rights-based approaches including advocating for sustained funding for digital safety initiatives.  

Building community-driven technologies that significantly enhance safety and accessibility for marginalized populations cannot be overemphasised enough, especially in addressing the challenges posed by TFGBV.  

There’s need to implement comprehensive digital Literacy Programmes aimed at empowering women and girls, and finally, embedding safety by design in technology platforms that adopt gender-sensitive policies that prioritize user safety and accountability and challenge gender biases.  

”During this 16 Days of Activism, it is especially important to raise awareness of TFGBV and its growing impact on women and girls globally. In this year that marks 30 years since the adoption of the BPfA, we are presented with a vital opportunity to explicitly integrate TFGBV into the global agenda for gender equality, ensuring that progress in the digital sphere keeps pace with gains made offline.”

As we reflect on three decades of commitment, we must ensure that women and girls, in all their diversities are safe in every space.  

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Wangari Maathai alongside mothers of political prisoners camped in the Uhuru (Freedom) Park demanding and petitioning the release of their sons by the then authoritarian Moi Regime (Mothers Hunger Strike 1992, Kenya). When police attempted to disperse and beat them for exercising their right to protest and ask for the release of their children, they stripped naked and asked what kind of government beats women and more so their mothers. The officers, shamed and uncomfortable, left and the mother’s cause garnered much wider and nationwide support. 

This example by the Late Maathai and other legendary feminists, whether they refer to themselves as such – epitomizes what feminist leadership looks like and what it can achieve, actual social and political change. Wangari went on to win a Nobel peace prize and through her activism added onto the blueprint on why feminists should lead in all spheres of life – public and private. 

The case for advancing feminist leadership

From the local to the global level, women’s leadership and political participation remains restrictive and gains made are persistently under threat of regression with the growing anti-gender rhetoric amongst other systemic barriers rooted in patriarchy. This is why we must make the case for feminist leadership as key towards advancing leadership and participation by women and girls in all their diversity. 

Women and gender diverse persons often face compounded biases in decision making spaces. Theyare frequently excluded from participating in decision making and consultation processes due to systemic perceptions that marginalize them. This is because of their gender, economic class, education, employment status, sexual orientation and as such enhance their vulnerability to harm, violence, harassment and abuse.  

Even with key policy and legal frameworks such as affirmative action that create space for women to occupy decision making seats in government, deep seated patriarchal norms and practices still create a hostile environment for women political leaders to thrive and drive change here.  

In Afghanistan, with the Taliban coming back into power, any form of participation of women let alone leadership in government, business, institutions and even the home is now surely non-existent. Anchored on harmful anti-gender and extremist religious ideology, women and girls in Afghanistan are being erased from private and public life as we know it. However, in the feminist spirit of revolt women and girls are still organising and adapting mechanisms to secure their lives and livelihoods, and we must all stand in solidarity to ensure we hold our ground, promote and protect the human rights of all.  

A key approach is to lead from the margins. In the Ethiopian context Womankind partners Ethiopian Women with Disability National Association (EWDNA) and Ssiqqee Women’s Development Association (SWDA) have consistently led work advocating for and supporting the participation of women including women living with disability, in the labour force and at workplace. Under the AWESOME programme they have worked with women in factories providing feminist mentorship, facilitating skills development in personal development, economic and financial literacy. This work has resulted in women leading unions and participating in bargaining for better workplace conditions and even enumeration.   

Collective power in solidarity

Another is feminist solidarity by coming together and through collective power agitating for expediency in advancing women’s leadership and participation. Additionally, we must leverage collective power to support the women and feminists already in positions of leadership and advancing the feminist agenda for all women and girls in all their diversity. Our collective strategy must straddle the spectrum of dialogue and dissent as needed.  

A few months ago, in a country now blatantly influencing nationally and globally under a clear anti-gender and anti-rights agenda – Texas House Representative Nicole Collier spent two nights on the Texas House Floor, quite literally. Even in her elective leadership she found the space to protest when procedure and policy failed. Nicole, a democrat, refused to sign a ‘permission slip’ that essentially forced her to attend a session engineered to amend geographical boundaries.

The Redistricting Law will add more house seats to a predominantly Republican favoured area. Her protest encouraged other female legislators to retract and tear their signed permission slips and join her in the protest. Though it passed, the galvanising of support that resulted was impactful both in the state and in the USA. Very soon after this redistricting law passed. The state of California and the majority democrat led House of Representatives passed a similar law aimed at countering the unfair redistribution by republicans in Texas. ‘Aura for aura’ as Kenyan Gen Z revolutionaries would say, and a perfect example of protest, collective solidarity and allyship. 

Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. It should not be that women are the exception (Ruth Bader Ginsburg). The world is changing across all spheres, and we seem to be in the eye of the hurricane with no room for reprieve. As such, in the feminist spirit we must stand ground with gains we have made and advance expediently to claim and reclaim our rights. Occupying and leveraging on feminist leadership and participation in public and private life is a befitting and integral response to the regression being envisaged all over the globe.  

Wanjiru Linda Kroeger is a human rights lawyer and pan-African feminist passionate about women’s rights and gender equality. She’s the Policy and Advocacy Manager, Women’s Participation in Leadership at Womankind Worldwide

The post The right to be difficult: Why feminists should lead appeared first on Womankind Worldwide.

Women’s economic rights are under siege. We’re seeing devastating cuts to aid, a growing backlash to gender equality, and the continuing rise of neoliberal systems that prioritise profit over all else. We’ve never needed the collective power and resistance of feminist movements more. 

The challenges faced are interlinked, and actions at the top have a knock-on effect. For example, when the World Bank encourages states to privatise public services to raise funds to pay back their debts, these services become profit- rather than people-driven. Then, as we highlight in our Beijing +30 report, because women shoulder a much larger care burden, the lack of quality services can force them to take work flexible enough to fit around their care needs—but without proper workplace protections. This leaves them vulnerable to abuse and harassment. 

Those invested in keeping the status quo—like international finance institutions and multinational corporations—are powerful, and fighting back can feel fruitless and fatiguing. But theirs is not the only way. At a time when gender-inclusive economies are more important than ever, feminist economics reimagines systems and societies in ways that promote equality between women, men, and people of all genders.  

”Mainstream economic perspectives generally focus on market value, recognising only work that is done for money. They also tend to be based around the realities of men’s lives and criticised as ‘gender blind’. In contrast, feminist economics sees gender relations as vital to how economies work, for example, calling for women’s unpaid care burden to be recognised and valued.”

Solidarity at IAFFE 

Last month, Womankind attended the International Association of Feminist Economics (IAFFE) annual conference. Our aims were to boost our knowledge of the latest developments in women’s economic rights and feed our partners’ priorities into collective strategies for combatting injustice. Progressive, anti-racist and—as the name suggests—feminist, IAFFE (which took place in Amherst, Massachusetts and online) is an important space. A mix of academics and activists delved into the key issues of the day, including valuing care, promoting tax justice, and reform of the international finance system. United by the conference theme of solidarity, there was also room for uncomfortable but needed conversations—like how allies to groups facing inequality can speak up and show up without centring ourselves. 

Care—it’s not all about the money 

Those advocating for women’s economic rights often argue about the financial value of care work—and with good reason. Economies are built on women’s unpaid labour and the World Economic Forum estimates that—if it was compensated—it would amount to 9 per cent of the world’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Annually, that’s around 11 trillion dollars! But care is so much more—a human right that everyone deserves which adds hugely to our wellbeing. We all may need care at some point—whether because of age, disability, or illness. As panellists highlighted throughout the conference, we need care systems that consider individuals’ varied and intersecting needs, and which allow those doing the care to have full lives and sufficient rest outside it.  

Collective solutions for interconnected problems 

”Economic injustice does not exist in a vacuum. And so, we need a feminist, collective response which recognises its inextricable ties to other threats to gender equality, like gender-based violence and climate crisis. Crucially, this response must share lessons across movements and centre the voices of those most affected in solutions. Consequently, Womankind had much to contribute at IAFFE, including our partner-informed calls, and details of partners’ cross-movement collaborations. For example, Mitini Nepal contributed LBTQIA+ women’s experiences to the corporate justice movement at the AWID forum.”

For those of us based in the  Global North, solidarity could mean using our platform and positionality to call for change from our governments. For example, IAFFE participants working on the care agenda criticised the resistance from Global North nations to systems centring care at the recent International Financing for Development conference. At Womankind, we’ll continue to speak up and speak out against decisions—like the UK aid cut—which jeapordise gender equality, and call for advances in how the UK and others promote women’s economic rights globally, including supporting:   

• Debt relief and cancellation—to redress enduring inequalities rooted in colonialism. 

• Reform of the International Finance Institutions—until the debt is cancelled, we call for reformed loan conditionalities which don’t encourage states to rely on privatisation. 

• Progressive taxation to fund publicly owned and run services. 

• The recognition, reward and redistribution of care work.  

• States’ ratification and implementation of International Labor Organization Convention 190—to stop abuse and harassment at work. 

• A UN Binding Treaty to stop corporations harming people and the planet. 

Underpinning all of this, we continue to champion the strengthening of feminist movements across the Global South, including through flexible funding and authentic sharing of power. We must stand together to challenge unjust systems so that women and people of all genders can claim their economic rights. 

Alexandra Webber is Policy and Advocacy Manager, Women’s Economic Rights and UK Advocacy at Womankind Worldwide. She recently attended the IAFFE conference sharing views and perspectives on just economic systems that value women’s rights. 

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Urmila Shrestha is a women’s rights activist and the Executive Director at Tewa– Nepal’s first women’s fund promoting gender equality and empowering women, girls, trans and intersex people.  

Tewa is a Nepali word meaning ‘support’. It was founded 30 years ago on the hallmarks of empowering the most marginalised and underfunded communities within Nepal with their work currently reaching up to 700 women’s groups. 

‘’The future is bleak- we are seeing a clawback on women’s rights and authoritarian governments that are anti-rights rising and essentially impacting our progress negatively. In Nepal for example we are navigating barriers such as government surveillance in our work including declaring our sources of funding- which is quite common as well in other South Asia countries. However, I want to be optimistic, positive and full of hope, we must keep up with our work. I know while things are tough at the moment but we can still advance a feminist future for women and girls,’’ she says. 

‘’Continued organising and allyship are one of the solutions that we can keep leveraging on to keep the momentum going,’’ she adds. 

In her opinion, the most significant impact of the global funding will affect the autonomy, agency and power of rightsholder communities working alongside Tewa in Nepal. ‘’We’ve faced sudden funding cuts forcing us to cut back on our programming but also, I’ve seen partner organisations affected by USAID’s Stop-Work-Order having to lay off staff and reduce their activities,’’ she says. 

While defunding of women’s rights organisations has been a massive setback to gender equality- Tewa has been keen on leaning on its strategic direction for sustainability to navigate the volatile funding terrain. ‘’We’ve been in conversations with private philanthropy foundations in the US that have really stepped up as a solid ally, but we know we’ll have to rethink how we’ve looked at core funding traditionally,’’ she adds.  

Urmila perceives support from allies and enthusiasts from a different lens, not just through funding but knowledge sharing and showing empathy needed especially now in solidarity. In her call to courage, she speaks of hope and confidence to keep the momentum, ‘’Let’s continue to share our beliefs, stand in solidarity and look forward to a bright future,’’ she says. 

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In a time when support is vital,  instead there have been devastating funding cuts.  With the ending of USAID and significant reductions from European development aid partners, the world has taken steps back in fulfilling commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals. Amongst the worst ramifications of these events at a time of war, food insecurity, the immigration crisis and health crises – is deepening gender inequality, with  women and girls disproportionately affected.  

A recent report by UN Women highlighted that women’s rights organisations are at a breaking point from the funding cuts, with many being forced to suspend programmes threatening crucial lifesaving services such as ending gender-based violence and health care amongst others. 

As a funder and ally in the feminist movement, Womankind Worldwide stands in solidarity with partners by lending unwavering support through flexible funding and continuing to advocate for millions of women and girls whose rights are under dire threat. 

Here, we highlight a series of stories spotlighting the work of our partners and how at such a time like this they remain committed in sustaining the momentum towards women’s rights. We echo and amplify the call for sustained funding. 

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Womankind Worldwide is delighted to announce Katie Ghose as a new Co-Chair of our board. Katie is a proud feminist and charity chief executive with nearly three decades experience of leadership of organisations supporting the rights of women refugees, survivors of domestic abuse and disabled women. She’s currently the chief executive of Kids – a UK charity that supports and empowers disabled children, young people and their families. Katie has also served as Chief Executive of the Women’s Aid Federation of England, the Electoral Reform Society and the British Institute of Human Rights.    

Katie will be joining Lusungu Kalanga as a fellow Co-Chair of Womankind’s board of trustees. We look forward to having two bold feminist leaders who will steer Womankind to greater heights in creating an equal world for women, girls and people of all genders.   

What motivates you?  

Katie Ghose: Injustice and inequality of every kind. I’m hugely motivated by my 16-year-old daughter and the new battles her generation faces in combatting everyday sexism and misogyny. I am fired up by their determination, empathy and inclusivity. I want to stand with young women and people of all genders and ages who are fighting for their rights to be safe, free and able to shape their own futures.  

What motivated you to join Womankind as our Co-Chair of the board?  

Katie Ghose: I love Womankind Worldwide’s ethos and the practical ways it brings its values to life. That includes its work in Afghanistan to support girls and women experiencing wholesale denial of their human rights and its commitment to flexible funding as a way to start to decolonise historic donor relationships. I am a huge admirer of the charity’s openness to trying different ways to share power, and excited to play my part in this as a Co-Chair working closely with the Co-CEOs and the amazing team. At a time when government cuts, rising misogyny and on-line harms are threatening girls and women’s freedoms, Womankind’s partnership and support is needed more than ever. I am eager to play my part.   

What are some of the core feminist values and convictions that you share with Womankind/align with? And how have you promoted these at a personal level?  

Katie Ghose: Feminism for me is the unrelenting pursuit of gender equality at every stage of life, from the equal value of a baby girl to dignity, agency and economic equality for older women. It means looking at everything through a gender lens, from how governments spend their money to how we observe and advance human rights.  It is the combatting of violence towards women and girls and its root causes and the fight for the right to education in Afghanistan. On a personal level it is my mentorship and encouragement of younger women to take their place in politics and public life. Inclusivity and intersectionality are key for me. My mixed heritage as an English and Indian woman and the prejudice I have faced, especially as a girl, has formed a personal conviction that feminism is about enlivening and empowering every woman in all her diversity. To be feminists together we cannot leave any woman behind.   

Any history you have in the feminist movement and key milestones that you’d like to share with us?  

Katie Ghose: I have a lifelong passion for women’s and girls’ rights. In my 20s, I was a barrister representing asylum seekers and I helped to found a specialist resource centre for refugee women. At Age Concern England, I led high profile campaigns on women’s pension right and age discrimination in the workplace.  Since then, I have led several non-profit organisations including Women’s Aid, where I mobilized a 180 strong federation of local groups to successfully campaign to safeguard life-saving services for women and girls at risk of violence and abuse. Womankind’s commitment to learn from all women connects with the ethos at Kids, the disabled children’s charity that I currently lead. I have been privileged to support disabled young women to give testimony to MPs in Parliament and to create their own peer support and advocacy networks.  

What are your ambitions and aspirations with this new leadership role?  

Katie Ghose: I want to be the best and most effective Co-Chair I can. I want to embody those principles of inclusivity and intersectionality and this incredible energy that Womankind has to keep moving forward, working with women in the most challenging situations in the Global South. I am ambitious for the charity’s next phase and I aspire to support its partnerships and collaborations so that it can continue to support women’s organisations to strengthen and grow.

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For the past year, MN has been part of Womankind’s Strategic Partner Support Grants pilot project. Through this, Womankind have funded 24 partners, with a focus on historically excluded and marginalised groups. These grants enable partners to work flexibly and strategically according to the needs of their local context and the individuals and communities they serve.  Without project-based restrictions or the burden of onerous application or reporting requirements grantees can focus on their work. 

This Pride Month, we are celebrating Mitini Nepal and shining a light on their powerful work for the rights, freedom and joy of the LBTQI+ community in Nepal. 

Funding space for strategy, connection and clarity

Globally, the backlash against both women’s and LBTQI+ rights has been growing. Anti-gender and anti-rights rhetoric and policies have real and damaging impact on how feminist and LBTQI+ organisations operate. But, with flexible and unrestricted funding, organisations like Mitini sustain and expand their work. 

“The Strategic Partner Support Grant from Womankind Worldwide has significantly strengthened Mitini Nepal’s institutional capacity, advocacy efforts, and direct community impact over the past 12 months. With this support, we were able to deepen our commitment to the rights, dignity, and wellbeing of sexual and gender minority communities in Nepal.” – Mitini Nepal 

MN took a multifaceted approach that blended strategic capacity-building, direct humanitarian and community support. They organised their annual Board and Staff Retreat together with training on self-care and wellbeing in Pokhara. This three-day event created space for critical reflection on institutional direction, the challenges and opportunities of advocacy in a rapidly changing political and social environment, and how to adapt their strategy. The retreat “not only provided intellectual and emotional nourishment but also contributed to strategic clarity, team solidarity, and a renewed commitment to long-term impact.” 

This type of deep, organisational work is something that many funds and funders do not support. But, this work is crucial for the sustainability and thriving of feminist organisations. 

Emergency support for the community

Mitini Nepal’s holistic support of the LBTQI+ community includes responding to emergency support needs. MN found that their Strategic Grant “has been vital in addressing urgent needs within the gender and sexual minority community.” 

With the strategic grant, Mitini were able to provide financial assistance to  

• an elder in the LBGTQI+ community ensuring uninterrupted cancer treatment 

• an elder in the community with medical support for pneumonia, saving her life as an elder without family support;  

• wheelchair support to a trans activist and GBV survivor, after a police assault; 

• livelihood support to an elder in the community with agricultural tools and seeds for kitchen gardening, enhancing their ability to generate sustainable income. 

These interventions highlight MN’s role as a critical first responder, meeting the pressing needs of LBTQI+ individuals during times of crisis. This type of immediate response is often hindered by rigid funding structures. With the flexibility of the strategic grant, Mitini were able to respond to these urgent challenges for members of their community.  

“By providing financial assistance for urgent medical treatments and advocating for the rights of these individuals, we have directly addressed pressing human rights issues within the gender and sexual minority community. This financial and moral support helps mitigate some of the discrimination and marginalization our community members face, reinforcing our commitment to the protection of their rights.” – Mitini Nepal 

Pride and Partnership

Mitini’s role and impact in the lives of LBTQI+ people in Nepal is undeniable. As we celebrate Mitini Nepal and and our partnership with them, we also reflect on meaningful solidarity and allyship. We believe that flexible, sustainable and unrestricted funding is a key way that funders can be true allies to LBTQI+ organisations and movements. The value that this type of funding brings to supporting rights and freedom is clear. Mitini shared, “the Strategic Partner Support Grant from Womankind Worldwide has had a profound impact on Mitini Nepal’s ability to execute our strategy, directly supporting our three key pillars: ensuring human rights, fostering social mobilisation and creating economic opportunities. It has also significantly bolstered our core programs including advocacy, social awareness, skill and capacity building training and research and publications.” 

“To the LGBTQI+ community in Nepal: You are seen, you are valued, and you are not alone. In the face of social stigma, discrimination, and institutional barriers, your resilience continues to be a powerful force for change. At Mitini Nepal, we believe that living your truth is an act of courage, and every step you take—no matter how small—is part of a collective journey toward dignity, equality, and justice. Keep speaking, keep showing up, and keep shining. Change is not only possible—it’s already happening, because of you.” – Mitini Nepal

Join us in celebrating Mitni Nepal and the LBTQI+ community in Nepal this Pride Month.

The post Actions, not words: meaningful allyship through flexible funding  appeared first on Womankind Worldwide.

The discourse that this new book presents also emerges from the margins of the British psychological drama- Adolescence, that has spurred heated debate about women’s safety online for the last several months. We can no longer treat this as an afterthought especially with the current AI explosion and uptake globally. 

The online world is riddled with a digital divide that continues to jeopardise women’s and girl’s online safety further deterring them from economic and social opportunities.

In 2025, as countries commemorate the Beijing+30 milestones and commitments to gender equality, online violence is still a significant barrier to finally achieving gender equality. According to Womankind’s Beijing+30 report; far-right agendas & the growing manosphere online are being emboldened by existing patriarchal systems and structures presenting new barriers to women’s rights online. 

While feminist advocacy and movement building have been key strategies in countering these inequalities, the technological revolution is evolving exponentially with unprecedented challenges for regulation. Caught in this web are marginalised groups of women and girls- racial, ethnic minorities, queer individuals and people with disabilities who now face a double risk of online violence. 

The end of fact checking is now a double sword to women’s safety online 

The situation is now complex with the end of fact checking ushering in what Big Tech platforms are calling – ‘a free speech era’. Championed by the Trump’s administration commitment to bring back free speech- while seemingly curtailing freedom of expression- fact checking has now been left as a responsibility for users. This model adopted by platforms like Meta, introduces ‘Community Notes’- relying on users to label posts as false or misleading. 

This new risk- also described as ‘citizen journalism’ by Elon Musk has been criticised as a new threat to democracy further endangering women’s rights and exposing them to new forms of bullying and hate. From Tik Tok to Facebook, Instagram and X- we’ve seen how radical groups are finding innovative ways to organise online, create harmful content and distribute them across platforms.  

The repercussions extend far and beyond digital harassment, impacting women’s well-being, mental health and safety while creating a dangerous continuum to femicide. In Kenya for example, the femicide crisis has also been directly linked to intimate partner violence and technologically assisted violence through dating apps.  

The accountability gap keeps growing 

As various sector players around the world rush to build accountable AI systems with the need for robust investments in governance and regulation, how do we enforce women’s safety online amidst these glaring realities? 

Big Tech companies have made substantial investments in women’s safety initiatives and policies but is this enough? With the current fact checking realities and the rush to garner profits from the AI explosion- profitability is being prioritised at the expense of women’s safety. We cannot continue to enable platforms that are systemically reducing women’s experience online to pervasive violence. 

The progressive way forward 

As advocates and defenders of human rights- feminist movements and women’s rights organisations have a critical role in holding Big Tech companies accountable. Through feminist-backed research, we must continuously provide data and evidence that policy makers can use to inform laws and policies whilst also innovating with platforms on survivor-based interventions that centre local solutions. 

Inclusive design must be integral to app and platform development. What safety approaches are embedded from the design phase, particularly catering for the needs of marginalised groups? 

Language as a tool of awareness creation is becoming incredibly important. It has been long argued that language used to define violence against women and girls is patriarchal- increasingly minimising acts of violence with weak laws failing to bring perpetrators to account. For example, there’s no current law that criminalises catfishing or address it as a standalone crime. 

Machine learning has an integral role in women’s online safety especially in detecting abusive language, flagging inflammatory content and labelling of non-consensual images. But time and again tech companies continue to underinvest in machine learning particularly in African countries where R&D budgets cover only a fraction of Africa’s 2,000 languages. We need gendered machine models that prioritise women’s safety and foster safe environments free of digital abuse. 

Taking action 

Digital feminism and campaigning for women’s rights and their safety must be a continuous tactic that we leverage on to protect women and girls online. Womankind Worldwide has launched a campaign: #SafeInEverySpace drawing attention to Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) including the global femicide crisis and the urgent need to advance women’s safety online. 

As free speech erodes the values we’ve held dear to pursue just and fair societies, now is the time to reclaim online spaces and ensure the digital divide does not continue to coopt women and girls from enjoying equal rights. 

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Key take aways

The book shares tips from feminist activists on how anyone can take small but powerful action through daily acts of everyday feminism to support social justice. 

They share their real experiences as grassroots campaigners, fighting for gender equality in the face of political unrest.   

With a free digital edition available to all, Womankind Worldwide – the UK’s largest feminist organisation – wants to show we all have the power to bring meaningful change this IWD. 

London, 6th March 2025 – In celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD) 2025, Womankind Worldwide – the UK’s largest feminist organisation – is launching Everyday Feminism: The Anthology, a powerful collection of short stories from feminist activists across the globe. 

Alongside emotive real-world experiences, each contributor offers their top tip for how everyone can be a  feminist, everyday.  

The digital book, which will be available free of charge and accessible to all here, aims to inspire action in the fight for gender equality this IWD.   

Why it matters  

Feminism faces growing resistance as the global political landscape continues to shift.  

Fewer than one in five young women now identify as feminists (Fawcett Society) and 16% of young men believe it has done more harm than good (Kings College London). With gender parity now projected to take until 2158 (World Economic Forum), action is urgently needed.  

Storytelling has always been at the heart of social change, amplifying the voices of those demanding justice to inspire action. Everyday Feminism: The Anthology acts both as an archive of feminist contributions and a practical guide – showing that feminism isn’t just about policies and protests, but about everyday choices that create lasting impact.  

By spotlighting ten extraordinary feminist leaders, it aims to cut through the noise around feminism with a powerful, simple call to action: small, daily acts of feminism can build a movement and accelerate change. 

10 ways to be an everyday feminist 

The book profiles feminist leaders from Womankind’s global partner network who work on the front-line tackling gender-based violence, advocating for women’s leadership, defending land rights and ensuring access to education and economic opportunities. 

For example, readers hear from Editar Ochieng, a survivor of gender-based violence in Kenya and leader of the  Feminist for Peace, Rights, and Justice Centre (FPRJC), who tells us about how she fought for her right to be heard for years. Today, she leads providing safe spaces for survivors and challenging harmful systems that silence women. “I am an everyday feminist because I speak out, even when it’s dangerous” she says. “And I want every woman to know she can, too.” 

Each of the featured activists shares a top tip on how readers can incorporate feminism into their everyday life.  

They are:  

• Be open-minded – challenge preconceived ideas about power and gender roles every day. (Editar Ochieng, FPRJC) 
• Lead with kindness – approach feminism with love and empathy. (Sakhile Sifelani-Ngoma, WiPSU) 
• Speak out – use your voice to raise awareness and include all women. (Gloria Mutyaba, FARUG) 
• Be curious – read, listen, and learn about feminism’s history and impact. (Maryam Rahmani, Womankind Worldwide) 
• Start small – everyday feminism can be as simple as calling out disparities. (Anne Agar, Polycom Girls) 
• Shift perspectives – feminism is not an elite idea—it’s part of daily life. (Lily Thapa, WHR) 
• Consider local context – understand specific challenges women face in different regions. (Thandiwe Chidavarume, Women and Land in Zimbabwe) 
• Listen and learn – follow feminist voices on social media; take their insights and engage in conversations, digitally or in real life. (Dibabe Bacha, EWDNA) 
• Make it fun – connect feminism to art, media, and culture. (Srilatha Batliwala, Feminist Grandmother) 
• Fuel your passion – let injustice drive your motivation for change. (Dinah MusindarwezoPan-African Feminist) 
• Join the movement with one small action today  

 This IWD, Womankind Worldwide is calling on everyone to join the everyday feminism movement as part of its mission to create a world where all women, girls and people of all genders enjoy equal rights and freedoms. Whether it’s speaking up in daily conversations, supporting women-led businesses, advocating for fair policies, or educating oneself about gender inequality, every action matters and is achievable in everyday life.  

Disha Sughand, Co-CEO at Womankind Worldwide, comments: 

“The world is on the precipice of a major gender equality step-back. From the rollback of reproductive freedoms in the U.S, to the erasure of women’s rights in Afghanistan, progress is stalling. In some places, it’s reversing. Sadly, at this rate, full gender equality is over a century away. That’s why International Women’s Day this year must be a rallying call for action, as well as a celebration of all the progress we have made. Womankind’s Anthology has been created as part of this fight, calling on everyone, everywhere, to take action, no matter how small. And equipping them with easy tips to help them do so.” 

You can download the free digital copy of the Anthology of Everyday Feminism here. 

ENDS

About Womankind Worldwide 

Womankind Worldwide is an international women’s rights organisation and funder, working with women’s rights groups and feminist movements across the world to end gender inequality. We take collective action alongside women’s rights organisations, feminist movements and activists in Eastern and Southern Africa and South Asia. We support them to challenge inequality at home, in communities and the workplace. We fund and strengthen these movements and advocate for change alongside them. 

Meet the Feminists 

Everyday Feminism: The Anthology spotlights ten feminist leaders advocating for gender equality across the globe. From Editar Ochieng in Kenya, who provides safe spaces for survivors of gender-based violence, to Gloria Mutyaba in Uganda, who fights for LGBTQI+ women’s rights. Lily Thapa in Nepal and Thandiwe Chidavarume in Zimbabwe are securing economic and land rights for women, while Dibabe Bacha in Ethiopia ensures women with disabilities have a voice in feminist movements. The anthology also features Sakhile Sifelani-Ngoma, championing women in politics, and Maryam Rahmani and Dinah Musindarwezo, who work to strengthen feminist movements across Africa and South Asia. Finally, Srilatha Batliwala, a longtime activist and scholar, reminds us that feminism is built on collective action. Together, these leaders prove that everyday feminism is a movement shaped by those who refuse to accept inequality. 

Further information about the authors in the book is available upon request.  

Contact 

Sally Gift, Communications Manager at Womankind Worldwide 

sallyg@womankind.org.uk 

Hannah Moore, Senior Account Manager at Woodrow 

h.moore@woodrowcommunications.com 

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