Change takes resourcing and organisation. But above all, change takes courage. For last 10 years, CMI! is proud to support such courageous activists around the world. Activists who stand up for their rights despite stigma, violence and oppression. And make the world a better place for all of us.
While we came to an end to our collective journey, we have captured stories of 5 of our partners. These are stories of relentless courage and resistance.
Across Asia, intersex people face a range of challenges, including invisibility, stigma, and systemic discrimination. Many are subjected to non-consensual medical interventions in infancy or childhood, procedures that can cause lasting physical and psychological harm. Access to appropriate healthcare remains limited, and legal recognition of intersex identities is rare, leaving many without the right to live in accordance with their true selves. Intersex Philippines, a grantee partner of Mama Cash has been flighting for the rights of Intersex people.
Women, trans people, and sex workers are often unjustly criminalised for who they are and their work. And even after they are out of prison, the stigma and exclusion persist. ELWOFOD established by two women ex-detainees is working to improve the lives of formerly incarcerated women in Kenya. CMI! supported their work through Mama Cash.
In Ecuador, sex work is legal but not protected. Without clear labour rights or social recognition, sex workers often face police harassment, health discrimination, and violence that goes unpunished. Many are pushed into unsafe conditions and excluded from decisions that directly affect their lives. PLAPERTS, a partner of Red Umbrella Fund, is fighting for sex workers’ rights.
WALPE’s work clearly demonstrates the importance of feminist movements in defending democracy. This inspiring organisation not only nourish the potential of young women to become future democratic leaders, but also practice their civic rights to protest and hold the government accountable for their unjust actions. CMI! has supported their work through Urgent Action Fund – Africa.
Egna Legna Besidet was founded by migrant domestic workers in Lebanon. The organisation is composed of community-based, feminist activists working on issues that migrant women domestic workers from the third world face in the Middle East, with a particular focus on Lebanon and Ethiopia. They provide holistic solutions to the challenges that migrant domestic workers face daily through legal, housing, and food assistance, shelter and medical referrals, skills training, as well as repatriation and reintegration services. They also advocate for the rights of migrant domestic workers as women, laborers, and dignified members of society. CMI! supported the organisation through CREA.
Indigenous and rural women, sex workers, lesbian and bisexual women, women with disabilities and HIV. They are among the many women, girls, trans and intersex people who confront multiple layers of discrimination. They are also the ones fighting for a world where everyone can enjoy justice and equality. CMI! is proud to be able to support many of such groups in the last 10 years. And we are proud to present a short glimpse of this unstoppable, brave activism.