Stop Oppressors from 'Regaining Ground'

In March I attended the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68) conference in New York City and listened to the opening remarks of Secretary-General António Guterres as he stressed: “Patriarchy is far from vanquished; it is regaining ground.”

You don’t need me or the Secretary-General to inform you that women and girls are facing a war on their fundamental rights at home and in their communities--weaponized rape, the erosion of body sovereignty and the repression of gender identity.

Along with our Legal and Policy Advisor Vayuna Gupta, I was grateful to convene in person and benefit from the energy of new friends and the momentum of long-term partners in the movement to end gender-based violence. Read on in this newsletter for more about who we met and the presentations we gave at CSW68.

How does patriarchy ‘regain ground?’ In one word: Representation. For example, in U.S. states that have banned abortion, two-thirds of the majority representatives are men. In states where there is no exception for rape or incest in abortion law, 80% of state legislators are men. In the courts, it’s not much better with only one-third of women comprising federal and state court judges. Violence against women is positioned both upstream and downstream in this dynamic. It is a profound barrier to women’s freedom to lead and it deeply impacts how survivors of gender-based violence are treated when they reach out for help.

Male-dominated governments the world over give short-shrift to policies protecting women from violence. If such law or policy exists at all, accountability for enforcing it is rare. Globally, rising autocratic regimes are doubling down on limiting women’s rights, and countries with men in power are much more likely to commit human rights violations with impunity. The message for women to ‘be quiet’ and stay away from halls of power is louder than ever.

Yet, there are so many moments that remind us--progress for equality and safety is real, however tattered; we are not going back. I was honored to attend a gathering in DC this month to strategize on the implementation of the first ever U.S. National Action Plan to End Gender Based Violence. The spirit of resistance and solidarity in the room was palpable.

We will continue to push back against this rising tide of patriarchy with our work to lift up women’s voices and the voices of the oppressed. Research shows that where more women are leaders, there is greater access to education and health care, and support for mothers and children, including programs to reduce gender-based violence. Where women are fully represented as equals in society and fully engaged in civic life, it benefits everyone.

We will continue to insist that the work of legal and systems reform needs to be robust and survivor-centered. Power must empower and be shared. This is the world I know you envision and what you are fighting for, too. Your commitment to Global Rights for Women takes us all forward towards our shared vision.

Cheryl Thomas

Founder and Executive Director, Global Rights for Women

Cheryl Thomas in Washington, DC in May 2024 for discussions on operationalizing the first U.S. National Action Plan to End Gender Based Violence. (Photo credit Amber White)

Projects You Sustain

Philippines

Increasing Safety for Women and Girls with the SALL Project

Global Rights for Women continues our engagement with eight NGOs and government agencies in the Philippines, each working in unique ways to address gender-based violence. These groups participate as a cohort in GRW's Systemic Advocacy Learning Lab (SALL) to strengthen their skills in making lasting legal and institutional reforms to ensure safety and justice for survivors. This multi-year project is funded by Cummins Powers Women.

GRW staff will travel to Manila to host a second in-person workshop, June 18-20. We will build on our in person and online work with our partners to achieve better community responses to human sex trafficking, sexual and domestic violence.

North Dakota--Statewide Needs Assessment

In the past month, Nicole Lindemyer, Director of Programs, and Mingyu Ma, Program Coordinator, traveled to Bismark and Grand Forks in North Dakota to conduct listening sessions with Native survivors of gender-based violence as well as with the advocates who serve them. These listening sessions are part of a statewide needs assessment first started in 2023. GRW will develop recommendations and action steps based on findings from these listening sessions and other information gathered from survivors and advocates, and will release a report in the fall of 2024.

New York City

Presenting at the UN CSW68

Vayuna Gupta, GRW’s Legal and Policy Advisor, and Cheryl Thomas, our Executive Director were in New York in March for the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68) conference. The annual two-week long conference is a gathering of thousands of people and many of the world's organizations working towards advancing women's rights and gender equality.

GRW participated in and led a number of events. Cheryl Thomas was part of a panel hosted by the European Women’s Lobby at Meta: Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence Through Transnational Feminist Solidarity (not recorded). Cheryl also led a discussion on Preventing Intimate Partner Violence through Stakeholder Collaboration with GRW’s Nicole Lindemyer, Ilute Lace from MARTA Centre (Latvia), Diana Videva from Demetra (Bulgaria), and Viktoria Desislava, Bulgarian Police.

Vayuna Gupta facilitated a discussion on a new document to the Convention on Elimination of discrimination against Women (CEDAW) addressing a major gap in international law - nation-state accountability to prevent GBV and protect victims: A New Optional Protocol to CEDAW: A Global Solution to Ending VAWG, with Meera Khanna, Guild for Service-India, Zainab Ali Khan, Every Woman Treaty, Dr. Uzodinma Adirieji, Afrihealth Optonet Association. You can also learn more about the history of CEDAW and the global movement for women’s human rights by reading Vayuna’s article The Initiative Advocating for a New Optional Protocol to CEDAW on our website.

CSW always offers GRW an opportunity to connect in person in New York with international partners and strategize about building on the achievements we’ve made together. Cheryl and Vayuna discussed plans for our work in the Philippines with current partner Jelen Paclarin of the Women's Legal Bureau, who introduced us to Amparo Miciano Sykioco from the National Rural Women's Coalition in the Philippines. Together we are working to address systemic challenges from a survivor-centered lens.

We were also thrilled to collaborate with the Every Woman Treaty Coalition on our efforts to achieve a new international law instrument on violence against women. This effort is gaining support at the United Nations as this human rights crisis continues to grow.

2023 GRW Annual Report Release

Despite the constant headwinds against women’s rights in 2023 we stand undaunted as we embark on our 10th year of operation. Together with you, we know that we can end the global calamity of gender-based violence in all its forms. The women of the world, all of them, need all of us to continue to advocate for global change that recognizes the human right to live free from violence. In our 2023 Annual Report, you’ll see how the funding you provide anchors this work in multiple geographies and enhances community resilience.

Gratitude and Recognition

With great sadness, we mourn the loss of our friend, Tom Micheletti, a cherished supporter and benefactor of Global Rights for Women. Tom's dedication and kindness left an enduring mark on our organization and the lives of those we serve.

Remembering Tom Micheletti

Tom's passion for justice and equality shone brightly in all he did, and his impact will be felt for years to come. Our hearts go out to his wonderful wife, Julie Jorgensen, and all who knew and loved him. We were fortunate to share time with Tom and Julie last spring during a fundraiser they graciously co-hosted on behalf of Global Rights for Women, where their warmth and humor illuminated the space. To honor Tom’s memory, numerous people collectively donated $30,000 to GRW. Tom’s presence will be deeply missed, and his spirit will live on in the work are able to continue to do to make the world a safer place for women and girls.

Celebrating the Next Decade--Thank You to Our Founders

In 2014, Global Rights for Women was founded when 40 innovative individuals joined together with founder Cheryl Thomas to launch an organization laser-focused on legal and systems change in an effort to end gender-based violence. With their support and bold vision, Global Rights for Women was created. Over the last decade, our organization has collaborated with partners around the world to implement legal reform and systemic change to support survivors and end gender-based violence. As we look toward the next decade, our founders gathered in May to invest over $120,000 to go toward making the world an equitable place for women and girls.

Watch our 10th Anniversary Celebration video produced by Bob Nye to see the scope of what we have collectively accomplished with your support over the years. If you are able and have not already, please consider donating and joining this effort.

Give Now

Events

Beyond Toxic Masculinity: Challenging Patriarchal Socialization

Thursday, May 30

12:00-1:00 p.m. CST/1:00-2:00 EST

Guests: Ulester Douglas, psychotherapist and consultant, Peter Mukuka, Men of Honor Zambia, Graham Barnes, Pathways to Family Peace

Facilitator: Chuck Derry, Gender Violence Institute

Patriarchy is a system of male dominance with the abuse of women deeply woven into all cultures. Societies and institutions need to address patriarchy as a system that benefits men as a group--going beyond dealing with problem individuals or “toxic” behavior. Not every man experiences power and privilege the same way, yet legal and social policies reinforce and perpetuate social attitudes that able-bodied cis-gender men are superior, with the expectation that women, gender-expansive people and the most marginalized are to relinquish power over their lives and conform in public and private spaces. Men engaged in dismantling patriarchy and challenging the gender binary will discuss at this event how they’ve interrogated the beliefs they learned as children, and how it has informed their current professional work seeking to end injustice.

Register Virtual Event May 30

Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Inperson or Virtual

Gender Based Violence, a Local and Global Crisis: A Guide for Domestic US and International Human Rights Law

Monday, June 3, 2024

Program from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm

Doors Open at 11:00 am

Location: Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.

60 South Sixth Street
Suite 1500
Minneapolis, MN 55402-4400

612-492-7000

612-492-7077

CLE Description: Globally, an estimated 736 million women—almost one in three—have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both at least once in their life. In Minnesota, at least 39 people were killed due to intimate partner homicide in 2023 – a 50% increase from 2021. We know that these deaths are not solely the result of individual acts of violence, but an intersecting culmination of collective and widespread failures across multiple systems that are further aggravated by current events, economic downturns, conflict, epidemics and pandemics, and natural disasters.

The session will trace the evolution of women’s rights under the human rights regime post the establishment of the United Nations in the aftermath of World War II and the United States domestic reforms on violence against women. Participants will gain insight into law and policy at the global and national level to address this human rights crisis – including from the United Nations, regional organizations, and the United States.

Co Hosts

Global Rights for Women (GRW) is a Minnesota-based organization working to eliminate gender-based violence (GBV) through legal and systems reform. GRW’s work addresses all forms of GBV including domestic violence, human and sex trafficking, and femicide.

Fredrikson & Byron is a leading Midwest law firm working collaboratively to help businesses achieve their goals regionally, nationally and globally. With a reputation as the firm “where law and business meet,” Fredrikson’s attorneys bring business acumen and entrepreneurial thinking to work with clients and operate as business advisors and strategic partners as well as legal counselors. The firm’s 375+ attorneys are based in Minneapolis, with offices in Ames, Bismarck, Des Moines, Fargo, Madison, Mankato, St. Paul, Saltillo, Mexico, and Shanghai, China.

Presenters

Presenters: Vayuna Gupta, Legal and Policy Advisor with Cheryl Thomas, Founder and Executive Director, Global Rights for Women

Bring your brown bag lunch.

We have applied for Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit for this program in Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin.

Register Inperson or Virtual Event June 3

Fall Event Save the Date

10th Anniversary Annual Event: Ending Gender Based Violence

Thursday, September 19, 2024, 5:00-7:00 p.m.

Weisman Art Museum, Minneapolis, MN

Save the date for an evening in Minneapolis to End Gender Based Violence on Thursday, September 19. We are gathering at the globally-acclaimed Weisman Art Museum located on the Mississippi River at the University of Minnesota campus in Minneapolis. This evening event will include a reception of appetizers, beverages, and socializing, with an exciting program featuring Emcee Jearlyn Steele, singer and radio host; Global Rights for Women Executive Director Cheryl Thomas; Global Rights for Women international colleagues; local spoken word poet Muna Abdulahi; and musical performances by broadway performer Diane Davis and pianist Mary Louise Knutson. A livestream and recording of the event will be available.

Your attendance and sponsorship for this event is vital to improving survivors' support in our local and international communities, and targeting the root causes of gender-based violence. For event sponsorship information, please visit www.globalrightsforwomen.org or contact Donia Hanaei at dhanaei@grwomen.org.

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