Why gender is missing in decolonization efforts

This is an important petition that sheds light on the failure of many women's rights advocates, and in particular Gender Based Violence specialists, to place the genocide in Gaza in a historical and colonial context. Written by women of color, all allies in global development and humanitarian assistance sector are invited to add their voices in the call for a ceasefire by reading, signing and sharing. Call to Action for Gender-Based Violence and Gender Inclusion Professionals: Solidarity with Palestinian Women, Girls, and LGBTQIA+ People A few excerpts: "Despite copious documentation of Israel’s continuing atrocities against women, girls, and LGBTQIA+ people in Palestine — and despite persistent calls for decolonized feminism — Global Minority and Western feminist and organizational narratives continue to negate human rights and gender equality principles, with lethal consequences. We are witnessing NGOs/INGOs, and prominent people refuse to frame current events within the broader historical context of a predatory Israeli-colonial system of occupation, apartheid, and militarism against Palestinians, with the financial and political support of Western governments, principally the United States and the United Kingdom. "Also apparent are the non-responses or tepid press releases by global institutions and funders that allegedly work on gender equality or GBV. For fear of being labeled anti-semitic, these institutions have chosen to ignore the well-documented historical context that led to the violence on October 7th, to speak out against Zionism, or to advocate for Palestinians. This narrative reinforces a double standard in which Global Minority and Western feminist and women’s rights-focused organizations proactively or complicitly align their position with governments and policies that support Israel or maintain strategic partnerships. Their refusal to critique or condemn the Israeli occupation erodes the accountability due to Palestinian women, girls, and LGBTQIA+ people. "We also observe how the Western media and self-identifying white feminists in power are only now decrying sexualized violence against Israelis to justify the policing, colonization, and genocide of Palestinians. This rhetoric doubles down on colonial 'feminism.' We condemn all forms of GBV, including against Palestinians and Israelis. We see and denounce the tactic of using Israeli GBV survivors to distract from the violence caused by Israeli occupation and apartheid. Palestinian women and girls are fatally caught in the privileged discomfort of the Global Minority feminist sectors’ inability to take a stand on human rights and relinquish their power. We acknowledge that speaking up is complex and nuanced in an era of severe backlash and the closing of feminist space." https://lnkd.in/eF7AnFi6

Contrary to popular belief… Diverse SOGIE (sexual orientation, gender identity & expression) have existed across cultures for centuries. Indigenous cultures globally recognized and respected this diversity long before colonization. Though “trans”, a Latin prefix which means across, over, beyond, or on the other side of, has been the term we used today in the English language to describe any gender other than the binary(cis), there are many words in other cultures that describe or capture the essence in language. E.g in Bugis society in Indonesia, there are 5 gender categories and the ones considered trans are calabai, calalai and bissu. What’s actually new is…homophobia and transphobia. 💡Homophobia and transphobia are tools of colonial oppression rooted in the imposition of gender hierarchy and sexual norms. They needed patriarchy to be a thing. 💡They waged it under the banner of ‘civilization’ and ‘morality’, criminalized and stigmatized indigenous practices that did not conform to their norms, erasing rich traditions and forcing conformity to heteronormative standards —a deliberate strategy to undermine and subjugate people. This continues to shape laws, attitudes, and societal norms worldwide. #LGBTQ+ folks still face discrimination, violence, and legal persecution based on these imposed colonial standards. In the U.S. we’re tracking 500+ anti-LGBTQ legislations introduced in Congress! Recognizing this history compels us to challenge and dismantle these oppressive legacies. This is not just about allyship… It is decolonizing our minds, ways of being and restoring dignity to those who’ve been stolen from. P.S. Don’t be like Candace Owens — someone who’s committed to their ignorance. PPS Abrahamic religion and books are not accurate representation of historical events across the globe. Please don’t use it as a basis for your bigotry.

They tell women to work harder. To pull themselves up. But how do they climb when the system was built to keep them down? This is not personal failure—this is capitalist and colonial design. A system that thrives on women’s unpaid labor. A system that never intended for us to rise—only to serve. Generations of women, especially in the Global South, are trapped in cycles of economic violence. ❌ Denied education. 💰 Forced into low-wage work. 🛑 Exploited under the banner of “development.” The unpaid labor of caregivers, domestic workers, and farmers fuels the world, yet their dignity and security are treated as disposable. This is not reformable. Systems, organizations, and governments cannot “fix” an economic system built on exploitation. They need to dismantle it. Decolonization means tearing down economic structures designed for extraction. We don’t need empty “empowerment” campaigns. We need: ✊ Economic Justice and Equity ✊ Reparations for stolen wealth and labor ✊ An economy that values care, not just capital. Real change isn’t about small fixes. It’s about reimagining a world where labor is valued, dignity is upheld, and justice isn’t an afterthought. It won’t happen overnight, but it starts with us—demanding more, pushing forward, and refusing to settle for less.  - Artwork done for International Center for Research on Women (ICRW)