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Last month, 3,500 feminists from every corner of the world came together in Bangkok for a conference hosted by the Association for Women’s Rights in Development (Awid). Eight years of planning went into the event, years that coincided with some of the most challenging and transformative global moments. The Covid pandemic, for example, ensured that an in-person 14th forum could not be held in 2020.
This December’s theme, Rising Together, spoke not just to the collective resilience of feminist movements but to the journey I have witnessed over decades of activism: one defined by courage, solidarity and a refusal to give up, no matter the odds.
Organising the forum was not without its challenges: visa restrictions, geopolitical instability and climate crises prevented many from joining us. Those from Lebanon endured uncertainty due to Israeli military aggression. Haitian feminists could not attend as gang violence shut down their airport.
For me, this was a stark reminder of the entrenched violence we are up against, and yet it also underscored why spaces such as the Awid forum are non-negotiable. Against a backdrop of far-right political gains – from North America to Africa – and the relentless rise of anti-feminist forces, the forum was a sanctuary and a rallying cry.
Growing up in Zimbabwe, I saw first-hand the interconnected nature of oppression – patriarchy, racism and economic injustice. These systems do not operate in isolation, and neither can our movements. The forum, for me, was a testament to this interconnectedness: we came together to reflect, learn, strategise – and imagine a positive and just future collectively.
Hearing the stories of feminists on the frontlines – whether from Gaza, Sudan or Myanmar – brought grief and pride. Grief and frustration for the unimaginable losses they have endured while most of the world turned away, and pride in their unwavering resistance. We sent messages of solidarity to Afghan feminists, whose very existence is being criminalised under the Taliban’s brutal regime. These stories reminded me of the power of feminist movements to create a culture of hope, even in the face of overwhelming violence.
The theme of Rising Together was a call to action. Feminism cannot afford to be reactive; it must remain visionary.
I was struck by the boldness of conversations on militarised violence and its global enablers – arms deals, corporate greed, climate destruction. These are systems that profit from oppression, yet in Bangkok it was clear: our resistance knows no borders.
The same boldness emerged in discussions on reclaiming digital spaces. As feminists from around the world shared their stories of online harassment, surveillance and silencing, I was reminded of the power of collective safety and innovation. Technology can be a tool of oppression, but it can also be a tool of liberation.
Creativity, too, was central to the forum. From breathtaking art installations to spoken word poetry, showing that feminism is not just a fight – it’s also an expression of joy, grief and resistance.
In a world where inequality, authoritarianism and climate crises intersect to exacerbate systemic oppression, feminist movements stand at the forefront of resistance and transformation. Yet these movements remain chronically underfunded, forced to make impossible choices.
State actors and philanthropic institutions often lack the political will to adequately fund these movements, leaving them vulnerable and undersupported in the face of escalating threats. This underfunding is not just a matter of shifting priorities of funders; it is a political choice that reflects a systemic undervaluation of feminist work and how critical it is for all positive social change.
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Investing in women’s rights and feminist movements means giving the world a chance at a just and equitable society. Supporting them is not optional – it is indispensable.
Looking ahead to 2025, the 30th anniversary of the Beijing declaration [a global women’s rights resolution adopted by the UN in 1995], I find myself reflecting on its legacy. Beijing was historic, yes, but its promises remain unfulfilled. Today, we face a backlash so severe it threatens to undo decades of progress.
Yet the forum reminded me that feminism’s power lies in its ability to evolve. Younger activists are calling for a forward-thinking, inclusive feminism – one centred on Indigenous women, disabled people, youth and others who have been historically marginalised.
This dialogue captured what feminism is at its core: a living, breathing movement rooted in the realities of those most affected by injustice. It is a movement that criticises, reflects and dares to dream.
The road ahead will be difficult, but I know we do not walk it alone. Together, we will rise.
