The rise in authoritarianism and many geopolitical crises around the world are perpetuating conflict, upending human rights, and magnifying societal friction. We know firsthand how these crises and shifts away from democracy gravely affect the lives of women and girls. 

Gender inequality is the fault line: it is both a cause and consequence of society’s failure to move beyond patriarchal norms and act for the common good. 

We believe that women’s movements are the antidote to conflict and authoritarianism. They are critical in advancing democracy and protecting the human rights of all. If you agree, please donate today.

Women around the world are pushing back against autocrats and anti-democratic policies. At our 2022 Make Equality Reality Gala, we honored the brave women of Iran who, despite brutal crackdowns, continued their push back against patriarchal rule of law following the murder of Mahsa Amini by the “morality police.” This year, we honored Filipino-American Journalist and Nobel Prize Laureate Maria Ressa, who was arrested in the Philippines for standing up to Rodrigo Duterte’s dictatorial regime. In Russia, the Feminist Anti War Resistance is leading a movement against the invasion of Ukraine. Putin’s regime has responded by taking aim at “radical feminist thought” – persecuting women activists and threatening to arrest women artists and journalists.

These attacks against women human rights defenders are proof positive that feminist movements threaten the very existence of dictatorial regimes. 

Where women are present in leadership positions, societies are more peaceful and more prosperous. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, between 1992 and 2019, women constituted just 13% of negotiations, 6% of mediators, and 6% of signatories in major peace processes worldwide. But the World Bank tells us that including women increases the probability of an agreement lasting at least 15 years by 35%.

Simply put, women’s leadership matters. 

That’s why Equality Now is building powerful coalitions, strengthening civil society, promoting women’s leadership, and elevating women’s voices at the highest levels. For example, to capitalize on our historic victory in the InterAmerican Court of Human Rights earlier this year, we are training young women and survivors from across Latin America on how to advocate for stronger laws against sexual violence that measure up to international human rights standards. Likewise, through the Young Women for Awareness, Agency, Advocacy, and Accountability project, Equality Now and our partners are building the capacity of young women and local women’s rights organizations in Egypt, Palestine, Kenya, and South Sudan to advocate for their human rights. 

Your gifts support our global community of women and girls who hold the potential to reshape the world and our future. Now is the time to make your tax-deductible gift and double your impact. During the year-end giving season, our friends at the InMaat Foundation will match your gift dollar-for-dollar up to $50,000. 

We could not do this work without you, so please stand in solidarity with women and girls everywhere and help create the deep and durable change that’s so desperately needed.

With deep gratitude and in solidarity, 

Mona Sinha
Global Executive Director