#YONECO is attending the regional dialogue on feminist funding for women’s movements in East and Southern Africa, taking place in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 16th to 20th June 2025. Key items on the agenda include discussions on strengthening financing for women’s rights organizations amidst ongoing pushbacks against efforts to achieve gender equality.
Speaking to representatives during the dialogue, Hon. Sindisiwe Chikunga, who serves as the Minister for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities in South Africa, stated that the ongoing defunding of women’s organizations represents one of the greatest dangers to the progress achieved since 1995 in the fight against violence against women and girls.
“Women’s rights are under siege. The poison of patriarchy is back, and it is back with a vengeance: slamming the brakes on action, tearing up progress, and mutating into new and dangerous forms,” she lamented.
She further described the dialogue as an opportunity to refine the narrative and contribute to transformative initiatives that explore ways to source funds for women’s movements and groups.
The dialogue has been organized by the UN Women and the European Commission under the Advocacy, Coalition Building and Transformative Feminist Action to End Violence against Women (ACT) programme.
#GenderEmpowerment #WomenMovement #EqualityNow
