Dear John,
One year ago Russian forces invaded Ukraine, starting a war that has displaced approximately 14 million people, devastated homes, buildings, and cities across the country, and killed at least 43,000 people. The intense fighting continues to displace the people of Ukraine, and human rights violations and threats are widespread for feminist activists, LGBTQI+ communities, and women and children across the country.
Since February 2022, Urgent Action Fund has awarded more than 160 grants and nearly $3 million to feminist organizations and activists impacted by the war in Ukraine.
This volume of grants has been made possible by the outpouring of donations we received at the outset of the war and that we continue to receive today. We want to thank those who have given for the generous contributions that have enabled our efforts and those of feminist activists to endure.
Our grants over the past year have supported immigrants, refugees, sex workers, LGBTQI+ communities, people with disabilities, and rural women. Many grants have assisted those evacuating the country, helped those remaining get access to essential resources, and provided funding for care, connection, and community-building necessary to get through these difficult times.
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Among the grants we’ve awarded, funding has gone to:
- An organization working with victims of sexual abuse by Russian soldiers. The funds covered psychological rehabilitation, relocation, and travel expenses.
- A Ukrainian feminist media outlet to continue its work. After the Russian invasion, the group lost income from advertisements and needed assistance to stay afloat.
- A Polish feminist group organizing a queer summer camp to welcome and offer safe spaces for Belarussian and Ukrainian queer activists resettled in Poland.
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As the conflict continues, with circumstances changing daily, Urgent Action Fund continues to respond with flexible and rapid resources for feminist movements. UAF is committed to meeting the needs of activists for the foreseeable future -- for however long this conflict endures and hopefully through a rebuilding and restoration period when it is over.
We now begin the second year of our response and support of Ukrainian activists, continuing to provide flexible funding to enhance the safety, security, and survival of feminist activists. We will continue to flexibly fund opportunities for advocacy, documentation, institutional strengthening, and movement building activities identified and spearheaded by Ukraine-based activists within and surrounding Ukraine as the nature and trajectory of the conflict evolves.
We at Urgent Action Fund recognize the future is uncertain for the activists and people in Ukraine. War is ugly and unkind. It inflicts trauma that can last for multiple generations. But we place our hope and support in feminist activists to do what they can and what they must for their continued survival and resilience.
Join us in our commitment to Ukrainian activists. Donate today.
In solidarity,
Urgent Action Fund
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