From our Lead Associates in Berlin to Buenos Aires, from Brussels to Harare, and from Washington D.C. to Yangon, we stand beside you as we mourn the recent death of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade and the countless other black Americans who have suffered from racial discrimination, violence and injustice for generations in the United States.
The systematic racial profiling, discrimination, brutality and lack of justice experienced by the African American and Black communities clearly stems from institutional racism. We condemn militarized police force’s brutal methods to silence and repress peaceful protestors and journalists in the wake of the George Floyd murder and beyond. It violates not only the U.S. Constitution, but also international human rights and the core of democratic values and rule of law.
Without detracting from what is happening in the USA, we acknowledge that institutionalised, racialised and gendered violence are a global issue that all societies must address. And this means starting with ourselves.
We at Gender Associations believe and work towards a security sector that fosters public and personal safety and human security, protects human rights and respects diversity, especially during times of insecurity and crisis like the global COVID pandemic. The Women, Peace and Security Agenda which guides Gender Associations, has at its core a commitment to challenge and change use of harsh power with a more inclusive, community driven and systemic approach that will guarantee safety and stability for all.
We deeply respect the core values of the Black Lives Matter movement and are working to emanate their call for self-reflexivity. We aim to continuously reflect on our own assumptions, prejudices and privileges and welcome feedback from those who help us to do so.
We also acknowledge the need to address all systemic racism, intersectional discrimination and State-sponsored violence experienced by Black people all over the world, including human right defenders, young leaders advocating peace and the rights in relation to gender and sexual diversity. It is the State’s duty, but also all of our responsibility, to fight racism and dismantle structural inequalities, biases and injustices.
We reiterate our support for the Black Lives Matter movement and stand with all activists and advocates working for a more just, equal and peaceful society.
Photo © Sarah Martin
