Tahwil Komboa Reziste Consortium
Inspired by African feminist values of sisterhood, solidarity and mutual aid, the African Women's Development Fund (AWDF), Initiative Sankofa d'Afrique de l'Ouest (ISDAO), Purposeful, Doria Feminist Fund, and Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA), have joined forces and resources to create Komboa ("Liberate" in Swahili) a feminist consortium that supports communities threatened by the rise of anti-rights and anti-gender movements.
Since 2010, there has been a significant increase in anti-rights and anti-gender attacks, characterised by heightened anti-gender rhetoric, policy impacts, and restrictions on civic freedoms.
These attacks are often coordinated by anti-rights movements aiming to maintain colonial and patriarchal structures, adversely affecting gender justice, LGBTQIA+ rights, and human rights.
The Urgency of the Problem
- Since 2010, there has been a significant increase in anti-rights and anti-gender attacks, characterised by heightened anti-gender rhetoric, policy impacts, and restrictions on civic freedoms.
- These attacks are often coordinated by anti-rights movements aiming to maintain colonial and patriarchal structures, adversely affecting gender justice, LGBTQIA+ rights, and human rights.
- The rise of anti-rights and anti-gender movements across Africa poses a significant threat to human rights, particularly for women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals.
- African feminist knowledge continues to be marginalised, limiting its influence in important discussions.
- These movements are gaining momentum and are supported by various institutions, including political and religious organisations.
- Where is Philanthropy on Anti-backlash: [Attacks against women and LGBTQI+ people and rights are in the service of a larger agenda’, that includes attacks on ethnic and racial minorities, immigrants, and anyone working in defence of the environment. ‘The goal is not just to roll back rights secured by feminists and LGBTQI+ people, but to replace a democratic world order with a racialised, patriarchal, transphobic, homophobic, and authoritarian governance model’ and consolidate a top-down economic model for the benefit of a few.]
- They are actively working to regress hard-won freedoms related to gender and sexuality, exemplified by increasing instances of gender-based violence, restrictive laws against LGBTQI+ communities, and efforts to undermine sexual and reproductive rights.[Examples that could be noted: femicide in Kenya, repressive anti-LGBTQI+ laws in Uganda and Ghana – plus on the table in Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Togo, Namibia, DRC; the lifting of the FGM ban in The Gambia, and the proposed Sexual Intercourse Bill in Somalia]
Why Feminist Movements Are Our Best Hope
- Feminist movements have been leading the way in promoting gender justice and countering the rhetoric and actions of anti-rights/gender actors.
- These movements are rooted in the experiences and knowledge of African women, girls, and gender-diverse peoples, equipping them to address these communities’ unique challenges.
- Feminist movements foster a sense of hope, inspiration, and belonging, creating an inclusive community where all feminist activists can organise and resist anti-rights and anti-gender actors.
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