Title: Defining a new inclusive future - Equality Now
Headings: Defining a new inclusive future
Jun 09, 2020
Defining a new inclusive future
In this ever changing, expanding context, the one constant is the widespread exploitation of women and girls.
A strong inclusive women’s movement has never been more necessary, yet our movement sometimes feels fraught with fractions.
We have it in our gift to define a new inclusive future, indeed, it is already happening.
Let us continue to rise above the divisions created by the patriarchy and seek equality through inclusion.

Content: Our global reach and the diversity of our networks enable us to bring together a diversity of women and girls’ experiences and thoughts. We have it in our gift to define a new inclusive future, indeed, it is already happening. Look at Sudan, where women came together to play a central role in the uprising against the dictator President Omar al-Bashir. Or in India where, in February 2019 thousands of women from across society joined a 10,000 km to raise awareness about the prevalence of rape and demand access to justice. Or right now, in Lebanon, where women from across social, religious and ethnic divides are joining together to stand on the front lines of protests against the government, pushing back against the power of corruption and elitism that is holding their country back. Standing between security forces and demonstrators, they prevented violence and allowed the people’s voice to be heard. Let us continue to rise above the divisions created by the patriarchy and seek equality through inclusion. We need a strong inclusive women’s movement that acknowledges that we are complex and diverse beings, that we won’t always agree on the approach but that we always need to engage with integrity and respect while trying to avoid the patriarchal snares that seek to divide us. We need to work together to address the inequalities and injustices girls, women and other marginalized genders face due to the privilege given to hegemonies of religion, ethnicity, caste, class and race over State laws and human rights in family and customary law and practice, including women’s rights over their bodies and self determination. Equality Now will continue to building solidarity with a diversity of other actors as we each seek to end the sexual exploitation and sexual violence against girls, women and other marginalized genders.