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Navigating Gender-Based Violence in Indonesia
By Dewi Aryanu, community organiser, IndonesiaĀ  Trigger Warning: Sexual harassment, sexual violence ā€œWhy did you take off your hijab? I sent you to live in a pesantren (Islamic boarding school) so that you know to…
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Facilitating Safe Spaces for Womxn in Indonesia
By Theresia Siti, community organiser, IndonesiaĀ  I joined FAMM Indonesia (Young Indonesian Women Activistsā€™ Forum) during their intergenerational meeting and Movement Building Institute (MBI) in 2010. Initially, I received an invitation from the director of…
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Learning from the Indigenous Womxn of Lou Bawe
ByĀ Yuliana, community organiser,Ā East Kalimantan, Indonesia When I decided to migrate from Sulawesi to East Kalimantan, the people around me said ā€œbe careful of the Dayaks, they like to cut off peopleā€™s heads.ā€ Their message stuck…
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The Search for Critical Friends
By Mufliha Wijayanti, lecturer at a State Islamic University in Indonesia ā€œThese ā€œgender ladiesā€ just add more work. Making regular planning is already a hassle, let alone having to use gender analysis, complicating things.ā€ “PSGA…
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The Change is Here: From Words to Voices, From Present to Future
By Vevi Alfi Maghfiroh, young journalist, Indonesia   I was born in Indamayuā€™s coastal region, and for me, my birthplace decides the kind of path that I have to walk on every single day. Since…
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Everyday is women’s day
A conversation with Makoma Lekalakala, Earthlife AfricaĀ  What is the state of organising by women in your sector and context? I respect women, particularly South African women because they donā€™t ever wait for Womenā€™s Day…
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International Womenā€™s Day in Mexico City: A mega-march against the patriarchy
By Laura Carlsen   The International Women’s Day march in Mexico City was one of the largest in the world in recent years. After receding during the pandemic, the traditional mobilisation returned in 2023 stronger…
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Unresigned
By Alexa Bradley I am sweating.Ā  I am alone, sitting with a phone pressed to my ear, waiting.Ā  My heart is beating, I am trying to breathe but feel nauseous. I am dreading what might…
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Reflections on a New Era in Honduras
ByĀ Delmy MartĆ­nez The scene after the 2021 presidential election: There is an air of freedom, and hope for change. The feeling of bonding is everywhere–in the looks, in the smiles, in the dance of the…
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Why anti-racist struggles are critical for our liberation
An interview with Phumi Mtetwa,Ā Regional Director, JASSĀ Southern Africa To mark 21 March, The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (also observed as Human Rights Day in South Africa), JASS sat down with Phumi…
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What’s LIBERATION without play?
A riddle:Ā  What is more powerful than power?Ā Ā  As the oceans boil, and the hurricanes beat violently against our shores, and the air sweats with the heat of impending doom, and our fists protest the…
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One Day, One Voice 2020: PEOPLE ARE THE SOLUTION! CELEBRATING MOVEMENT BUILDING IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
This year, we are proud to be celebrating the 10th year of JASSā€™ annual regional campaign One Day, One Voice (ODOV), which aims to unite the initiatives of women across Southeast Asia around the 16…
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How I became bold – Meet Marg VeneKlasen
When I first sat down to interview Margaret VeneKlasen, I was very nervous. I wondered whether it was even appropriate to ask this 90-year-old woman with an inspiring legacy this simple question, ā€œMarg, how did…
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Why am I a Feminist?
By Chantrea Koeut-Urgell I have been a feminist since before I even realized or understood what feminism meantā€”before I even heard what ā€œfeminismā€ was about. I am a proud feminist because I advocate for womenā€™s…
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Rebelling for the Right to Education
ā€œWhen youā€™re an ā€˜activistā€™ you are labelled all sorts of things, [you are seen as someone] who is ā€˜rebelliousā€™,ā€ says long-time Zimbabwean student rights activist, Evernice Munando.  Students across the globe are rising up and…
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Breaking out of the Boxes
By Maggie Hazvinei Mapondera I am a writer, and an avid reader. But I am always left thinking where the stories about me are? When do I ever read a story in which I canĀ seeĀ or…
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Truth, justice and the feminist way
Ask a roomful of people to stand up if any of them have ever experienced violence personally or know of a woman who has experienced violence. Theyā€™ll all stand. Ask this same group if they…
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Apparently women have achieved equalityā€”who knew?
This. This interview pulled at almost every one of my emotionsā€”laughter, confusion, anger, frustration, and sadness BUT, it missed happiness. Watch the video, but if you canā€™t now here is a quick synopsis, although I…
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A Week of Reflection & Learning
Surrounded by the tropical warmth and lush vegetation of Nicaragua, the breezes from Lake Managua and the gardens of Cantera refresh us. This historic popular education center created by women is our beautiful home during…
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Transforming Womenā€™s Lives in Myanmar
Written by Julie Lun (Caing Ngaih Lwin) ā€œThe hand that rocks the cradle rules the whole world,ā€ goes a popular saying honoring women. But why is it that there are so many women today who…
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Building from the ā€˜Iā€™ to the ā€˜Weā€™
For three days in Johannesburg, JASS has been asking the big questions for feminist movement building and activism in Southern Africa: where, what, who, why and how. It couldnā€™t come at a more pressing time…
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Seven Striking Things about Zimbabweā€™s Stop Rape Now March
Over four hundred women are waiting in front of Harare Town House, a spot that once marked the centre of the city. There are all sorts of women in the crowdā€”the young and the less…
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Feminist BUZZ: BeyoncƩ has us asking WHO & WHAT is a feminist?
BeyoncĆ© has the internet abuzz, but this time itā€™s not just about her music and the groundbreaking launch of her new albumā€”itā€™s also about whether or not she is a feminist. From academics to culture…
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Upcoming Zimbabwe Elections, Wiztech, and Feminist Politricks
7 am TALKCITY cyber cafe, Joina City Mall, Harare A long, winding queue has formed from the Julius Nyerere entrance, past the Edgars shop, across Jason Moyo, stopping right at the corner of the main…
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Now that IĀ“m Sixty-Fiveā€¦
On January 26, 2013, I turned 65. Instead of getting depressed because IĀ“m now officially a senior citizen or worse still, an ā€œelderlyā€ woman, I decided to celebrate this journey which has been my life by…
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Sex Workers’ Rights are Women’s Rights
Written by Wala Nalungwe, a young Zambian feminist activist who is also the Coordinator for the Young Womenā€™s Leadership Academy Project at JASS partner organisation, Youth Vision Zambia. ā€œWould you fight for the rights of…
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Now that IĀ“m Sixty-Five: celebrating HERstory
Translated from Spanish by Kiona Medina. On January 26, 2013, I turned 65. Instead of getting depressed because IĀ“m now officially a senior citizen or worse still, an ā€œelderlyā€ woman, I decided to celebrate this…
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Are we Sweeping Domestic Violence Under the Rug?
By Adelaide Mazwarira As an avid fan of the TV show, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, I couldnā€™t help but take interest in its latest episode which was receiving a lot of outrage over…
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Malawi: 10 things we would write about if we had the time
After a whirlwind of activity over roughly 14 days, we leave Malawi bone-tired but also excited about the depth and breadth of JASS’ work, our partnerships with MANERELA+ and women leaders from a wide spectrum…
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Caution: Fearless Women Crossing the Line in Malawi
Thereā€™s energy in the airā€”here in Malawi. It crackles and shimmers, builds and builds, until it feels as though we are riding on a tidal wave of collective power, of women who have come from…
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Where did all the “bad women” go?
Musasa-JASS Wellbeing Circle in Zimbabwe. What makes a ā€œbad womanā€? Does she laugh too loudly or speak out of turn, drink too hard or dance all the time, have too much sex or no sex…
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Young Zambian Women Tackle Patriarchy, Power & Sex
Patriarchy. Power. Sex. These are the concepts that young women in Zambia are grappling with at the Young Women’s Leadership Camp. Patriarchy ā€“ through institutions like the family, tradition and culture, education and the media ā€“ controls womenā€™s sexuality as…
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Our Love
                    I love you not for your skin or how your hair done I love you not for your face or how you dress yourself I…
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A Brief Virtual Discussion on “NGO-isationā€ and its discontents
Hope Chigudu said: NGO-isation? I am not sure that I know what this term means but what I know is that there is a way in which we do things as NGOs that makes some…
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Psst, psst, I slapped a policeman today!
8:00 a.m Zimbabwe time. At Charge Office Flea Market, where we have learnt skills to multiply the dollar for daily survival, there are stacks and stacks of second hand clothes, and unopened bales too. We…
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My Body Is Not a Strange Flesh Anymore
My body used to be a strange thing. It’s a fragile yet a sacred monument full of myth, which I found out later is not the truth. In some cases the myth serve as the…
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Wise Advice for Activists from Ugandan Sex Workers
In time for International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, Hope Chigudu shares lessons learned from our sisters – activists, sex workers, feminists in Uganda…   They hate writing. They like music, dance and…
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Photos from the US Social Forum
Ā  JASS’ Maggie Mapondera in action – and some eye-catching images and slogans at the Social Forum. Thanks, Nani, for the photos!
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JASS is like jazz
When I think of JASS, the first thing that comes to mind is jazz music. Travis Jackson describes jazz music as ā€œswinging, improvising, group interaction, developing an ā€˜individual voiceā€™ and being ā€˜openā€™ to different musical…
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The Dangers of One Story
The latest dispatch from Hope Chigudu, this time from the North of Malawi, with Sindi Blose Itā€™s difficult to know people till you meet them in their environment. The workshop situation can present what Chimamanda…
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Reclaiming Women Space and Voices: Crossing the Line in Zimbabwe
The gathering on the 6th March 2010 was a public one at the National Art Gallery in Harare, Zimbabwe ā€“ one of the events taking place this month to commemorate International Womenā€™s Day. The panel…
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Age Matters: A JASS Discussion Paper
How can we truly engage all generations in our movements? We all have something valuable to offer, no matter what our age, and yet the ageism that often blocks us has not been explicitly addressed.…
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Generational dynamics and debates at Beijing +15 Asia Pacific
The opening addresses of the Asia Pacific NGO Forum Beijing +15 emphasized the background of the conference and set the tone for the rest of the forum. The speakers recalled the previous AP NGO forum…
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Feminism
by Mia Nikasimo (c) Feminism is an activismIn the service of equalRights for all women with-out exception; all of us.Congratulate yourselfWhen you hear echoes ofThe gunshots pow, pow followed by a ring, ring,Hits concrete or…
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A View from Fairview
As the 8 women in the planning meeting go to their rooms to retire for the night , I reflect on the day’s proceedings. What have we achieved, what are we going to do, where…
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Religious Harmony via Feminism in Israel: A Discussion with Ms. Roula Deeb
By Vyjayanthi Vadrevu Carrie, Carmen and I had the privilege of meeting with Ms. Roula Deeb, Director and Co-Founder of the Israeli-based feminist organization Kayan. Prior to Kayan, Ms. Deeb worked at Isha Lā€™Isha- Haifa…
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International Women’s Day: Still a long way to go!
Not yet Uhuru! March 8 was International Womenā€™s Day. This is a day marked to ā€˜celebrate women and recognize the great role they play in the worldā€™. Women are not just women they are mothers,…
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Reflections – Malawi
I have been reflecting on the circumstances of the women we have been meeting during the Malawi workshops, on how they live and how they cope with the changes in their lives in the context of HIV…
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My turning point
Pantsunburma shares her reflections at the JASS Crossregional Dialogue. I could learn experience sharing form difference region. JASS each regional group is come from different continent, background and political situation which make different contacts, approaches…
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Amandla Awethu at AWID!
Written by Amanda Awethu I cannot believe I almost gave up on coming to Cape Town for the 11th AWID Forum. I was on the verge of giving up as I had hassles trying to…
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Interesting event at AWID Forum in Cape Town
Today i’m very happy because i’m attend one session about dancing the revolution. I am learning about how to make activities to fun. it’s great….that’s inspiring my self to make a good plan activities in…
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JASS Crossregional Dialogue 2008: Workshop
By Wala The meeting was explosive with different ideas from diverse women across the globe. It was an enriching and eye opening experience. It also challenged me as a woman and as an activist to…
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Urgent Action in Support of Nicaraguan Feminists
Dear friends, Please read the urgent condemnation letter to register support for the Nicaraguan feminists who’ve been targeted by their government for their support for reproductive rights and criticism of the shrinking democratic space in…
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Women’s Voices Strong at the Americas Social Forum in Guatemala
Wow, what a week. It is hard to know where to start and exhaustion is setting in so my thoughts are all over the map. Perhaps I should begin by attempting to share some of…
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Crossing the line at the African Feminist Forum
Commonwealth Munyonyo, Kampala was this year graced with the presence of at least 150 African women feminists who got together to continue with the feminist revolution. Throughout the 4 days women from at least 29…
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The day I crossed the line
Tuesday at the IAC was an action packed day for me. I got to speak in front of a lot of people which was a new experience for me and it definitely made me feel…
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