How the rule of far right governments impacts feminist work

Women’s rights, and LGBTQ+-rights and human rights are under threat worldwide. In a world where conservative movements are – often successfully – countering the progress that feminists have made, with less and less funding and means, it is important to shed light on those working at the forefront of the feminist movements, trying to secure an equal and just world for all. Lilith Magazine teamed up with Hivos, to create a series of interviews connecting international feminists who share thoughts on current times, their work, the challenges they are facing and how they are trying to push back. In the next few months you can read our interviews on Lilith Magazine, join us for live conversations throughout the country and listen to our podcasts.

Graciela Rodríguez is an eco-feminist, originally from Argentina. After fleeing Argentina because of the military dictatorship of Videla, she is now a naturalized Brazilian. Ecofeminists see a connection between the exploitation of nature and the exploitation of women within the patriarchal system, since both women and nature have been oppressed and dominated by the patriarchal system, reducing them to entities of reproduction for the growth of capital. Over the years Rodríguez has seen firsthand how the integration of Brazil in global institutions such as the World Trade Organization (WTO) and trade agreements like Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) has impacted mainly women. Rodríguez is the coördinator of Instituto Eqüit, a Brazilian organization focusing on contributing to women’s autonomy, and furthermore: equality between women and men as a matter of human rights and a condition for social justice. Graciela is part of Voices for Just Climate Action, one of the strategic partnerships of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Devika Partiman is co-founder of Stem op een Vrouw, working towards female representation in the Dutch political field. Initially their focus was on raising awareness and encouraging voter behavior. Since their campaign launched, over 700 female politicians who had a lower place on the electoral list, got elected. And though it’s difficult to ascribe exact numbers of additional elected female politicians to their campaign, it is a fact that this trend has risen since their start. At the same time the organization realized that influencing how people vote was interference in just one part of the democratic process. They soon added mentoring programs for aspiring politicians, set up advice sessions for newly elected women. They organize workshops on debating and campaigning, which are crucial for women running for office. ‘By taking a step back and addressing the entire political ladder - from party membership to public office - we aim to create a more comprehensive support system for women in politics.’Description text goes here

The Netherlands recently installed a government with radical right sentiments. Among social organizers the fear is that this new government will implement budget cuts, making sustainable feminist organizing nearly impossible. Notably for already marginalized groups. Lilith Magazine paired Brazilian eco-feminist Graciela Rodríguez with Dutch feminist and activist Devika Partiman, to discuss their experience with radical right extremism in government and the impact it has on women’s rights.

From 2019 to 2022 Jair Bolsonaro served as president of Brazil, after the turmoil in which the left-winged Dilma Rousseff – who was the first female president of Brazil – was forced out of office. Brazil went from a progressively led country to having a far-right government. How did your work change under Bolsonaro’s regime?

Graciela Rodríguez: ‘During Bolsonaro’s time, there was no dialogue with the government. Civil society had no space for advocacy, and many social movements were forced to focus on survival rather than progress. For women, this meant a deepening of issues like debt, as many turned to borrowing money just to cover basic needs like food, medicine, and utilities—many of which had been privatized, leading to skyrocketing costs. For instance in Rio, where I live, water was privatized, leading to higher prices.’

‘Despite the lack of government support, we continued to organize at the grassroots level. We conducted research, trained new activists, and worked tirelessly to document and to expose the growing debt crisis.’

“We are at a critical juncture in history, where the crises of neoliberalism – climate change, staggering inequality, and mass migration – are forcing us to rethink our way of life. The challenges we face require us to move beyond individualism and build communities that prioritize harmony with each other and with the planet”

Partiman, Your first campaign with Stem op een Vrouw was sparked – among other things – by the election of Donald Trump. The Netherlands now has a government with radical right sentiments. What are your concerns?

Devika Partiman: ‘The new far-right government presents several challenges for organizations like ours. One major concern is the potential reduction in funding for gender equality initiatives. The government’s plans for budget cuts could impact our work and that of other organizations focused on feminist issues. In the past, such cuts have led to the decline of women’s movements and their activities. I fear that the government might focus disproportionately on the funding of certain issues, such as honor killings and street harassment. It’s not a popular opinion within feminist movements, but I believe the focus on honor killings and street harassment is one that is driven by the intent to blame men of color. Far right political parties address “honor killings” because they can ascribe these to – for instance – muslims or the supposed “backward” culture of islam. At the same time the numbers for femicide and gender-based violence are far higher than those of “honor killings”, yet these issues aren’t addressed. This selective focus undermines a comprehensive approach of femicide and gender-based violence.’

Graciela Rodríguez: ‘I think we will go through a serious process of weakening of civil society. Feminist foreign policy is already under pressure. This anti-rights wave is everywhere: in international spaces, within the United Nations, the far right is pushing an agenda contrary to women’s rights and contrary to human rights. The thing with feminist funding is that feminism doesn’t always feel like a concern for society as a whole. We can’t go door to door collecting money as organizations such as Doctors without Borders or the Red Cross can. Luckily in Europe a lot has already been achieved over the past years in terms of securing funding. Countries like the Netherlands, Germany, France and Spain have committed to feminist policy and have been committed to certain forms of financing of women's organizations. I hope that, even with this new government, there will be some counterweight in Europe to these conservative forces. That is why we have to value working in coalitions like Voices for Just Climate Action (VCA).’

Voices for Just Climate Action is an international alliance, under the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ five-year strategic partnership ‘Power of Voices’. The alliance is made up of a diverse range of civil society organizations representing women, youth, indigenous people, urban poor, digital activists and more. Instituto Eqüit is a sub-grantee within VCA, so any budget cuts from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs could possibly mean Eqüit and other grassroots organizations would lose their funding.

In a report by Mama Cash the feminist organization underlines that even though feminist movements are driving climate action and building initiatives to advance climate justice on multiple levels, they are already severely underfunded. According to OECD data, only 0.22% of climate-related ODA went to women’s rights organizations in 2018-2019. Of the total amount of philanthropic giving, only 3% of all money donated to climate related issues went directly to support women’s environmental activism.

How do you see the global rise of the far-right affecting feminist movements?

Graciela Rodríguez: ‘We are at a critical juncture in history, where the crises of neoliberalism – climate change, staggering inequality, and mass migration – are forcing us to rethink our way of life. The challenges we face require us to move beyond individualism and build communities that prioritize harmony with each other and with the planet. I call myself an eco-feminist because women (and marginalized groups) are the first to be affected by climate change, for instance what we see happening now in Rio Grande do Sul where hundreds of towns are flooded.’

The widespread floods caused 85 people to die in May this year, over 150.000 people were displaced, many of whom were women. Not only are these women affected by this displacement, but an accumulation of issues. The United Nations calls climate change a “threat multiplier” because it can escalate social, political and economic tensions. At COP28 UN Women launched a report suggesting that climate change may push up to 158 million more women and girls into poverty.

‘In Brazil agriculture is also deeply intertwined with feminism, because the division of labor in farming often falls along gender lines’, Graciela explains. When agriculture is affected by climate change – be it drought or floods – this puts added pressure on women and girls working as agriculture workers trying to secure income and resources for their families.

‘Climate change is already having severe impacts in Brazil, from droughts in the Amazon to devastating forest fires. These challenges demand urgent attention, and we are preparing for even more significant issues, such as climate-induced migration, which is already beginning to affect the region. Let’s be clear: the ecological transition in the Global North (or minority world) is taking place at the expense of the exploitation of minerals and other resources in the Global South (or majority world).’

“The rise of far-right politics poses significant challenges. But it could also catalyze renewed feminist activism. Similar to how the election of Donald Trump spurred a wave of feminist engagement, the current political climate might inspire increased activism and innovative approaches to gender equality”

What are other international issues you see?

Graciela Rodríguez: ‘Well, there is the issue of war, although not in our immediate region. It represents a significant change in the world with strong impacts. The genocide in Gaza, for example, is not only a humanitarian concern but a critical issue for humanity as a whole. It highlights a deep crisis within capitalism, facing its own decline with increasing violence. This decline is evident in Europe, which has been heavily impacted by the hegemonic logic of the United States, as seen in both the Ukraine conflict and the situation in Israel and Gaza.’

‘Despite widespread international condemnation, the war in Gaza persists, revealing the complexities of global power dynamics. Figures like Netanyahu continue to be legitimized by Western leaders, even amid ongoing atrocities. His recent visit to Washington, where he was welcomed by conservative members of Congress, but also VP and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, underscores how geopolitical alliances often overshadow human rights concerns. This stark reality has broader implications, reinforcing a global trend where the interests of powerful nations dictate the terms of conflict resolution, often at the expense of marginalized communities. This international complicity deeply affects us here in Brazil and across the Global South, reflecting the ongoing struggle against neocolonial practices and overexploitation of natural resources and the prioritization of economic interests over human lives.’

Devika Partiman: ‘Apart from funding disappearing, we’re also afraid of the far-right government’s plans around abortion rights. We fear that the new administration in the Netherlands might attempt to impose stricter regulations, such as shortening the legal abortion period to eighteen weeks.’ Currently abortion is allowed until 24 weeks in the Netherlands. After this period abortion is only allowed in case of severe health threats for the mother and child’s life. ‘Such changes could severely undermine women's autonomy over their reproductive health and restrict access to safe and legal abortion services. It’s something we see happening in a broader sense; the diminishing support for gender equality and reproductive rights. We as feminist organizers have to stay vigilant and active in defending these essential freedoms.’

Graciela Rodríguez: ‘The global rise of the far-right is a significant challenge for feminist movements. These movements often bring with them an agenda that is hostile to women’s rights and human rights in general. In Brazil, we’ve seen how these forces can dismantle social progress, and similar patterns are emerging across Europe and other parts of the world. However, there is hope in the growing resistance. Feminist foreign policy is one avenue where we can push back against these regressive forces. At the same time I do want to emphasize the importance of resilience in the face of ongoing struggles. I’ve lived through a military dictatorship in Argentina, I’ve lived through a political coup here in Brazil, and the rise of the far-right. The fight for justice and equality has never ceased.’

Graciela Rodríguez says that the fight for justice and equality has never ceased, but at the same time funding cuts do mean there’s less you can do as an organization. Devika, your organization is also – albeit partially – funded by this government with far right sentiments. Are you anticipating any changes?

Devika Partiman: ‘We don’t know what the government will do exactly, as they have yet to announce their plans. But when you take into account what the government has vaguely announced, we can guess. For instance they want to shrink the budget for development co-operation and aid to virtually zero euro. That means that all the work that the Netherlands did in the field of development co-operation and aid will disappear, including work on gender equality. So yes, we already know that there are organizations in the Netherlands that are going to disappear. It’s also history repeating itself. That’s why it’s so important to us that our core business isn’t funded by the government.’

“To the younger generation, I say: do not be discouraged by the overwhelming odds. The struggle for a better world is a constant one, and it is through this struggle that we find meaning and purpose. Feminism, with its deep connection to both social justice and environmental sustainability, offers a path forward. It’s about defending life, advocating for our rights, and ensuring that the world we leave behind is one where future generations can thrive”

What do you mean by history repeating itself?

Devika Partiman: ‘During the second wave of feminism in the 1980s, there was a substantial increase in funding for women's organizations, which led to a flourishing of feminist activism here in the Netherlands. There were numerous initiatives aimed at promoting gender equality. Every village had at least one organization that was focused on women, can you imagine? But when the government decided that the emancipation of women was “complete”, they reduced funding significantly. Some organizations were forced to merge, others to shut down because they simply couldn’t keep up their work without adequate financial support. This also meant that new initiatives couldn’t grow. Feminist funding often comes from limited sources, including government grants and private donations, so cuts are really devastating. And in the end, this cyclical pattern of funding instability, also weakens the overall impact the feminist movement can truly have.’

How do you look at the future then?

Graciela Rodríguez: ‘With Lula's return [the left-winged president Lula Da Silva took office in 2023, HEM], we are once again in dialogue with the government. This shift is crucial, as it opens up space for advocating policies that address the needs of women and other marginalized groups. During Bolsonaro’s era, our work expanded to include climate change and its disproportionate impact on women, especially in black and indigenous communities. Now, we are exploring new ways to communicate these issues through art and culture. We have to try and reach a wider audience and engage more deeply with society in order for the feminist movement to gain more support.’

‘To the younger generation, I say: do not be discouraged by the overwhelming odds. The struggle for a better world is a constant one, and it is through this struggle that we find meaning and purpose. Feminism, with its deep connection to both social justice and environmental sustainability, offers a path forward. It’s about defending life, advocating for our rights, and ensuring that the world we leave behind is one where future generations can thrive.’

Devika Partiman: ‘The rise of far-right politics poses significant challenges. But it could also catalyze renewed feminist activism. Similar to how the election of Donald Trump spurred a wave of feminist engagement, the current political climate might inspire increased activism and innovative approaches to gender equality. I truly hope this will happen in the Netherlands, but I have to be honest: maybe I’m too old, or maybe I’m so out of tune that I don’t notice it anymore, but I am startled by the fact the election of Geert Wilders didn’t spark more protest. I’m glad to see activists uniting around what is happening in Palestine, but I don’t see it around our new government. I hope that in a few years I will look back and that I will be proven wrong. I know that there is potential for a resurgence in feminist mobilization. Activist movements often emerge stronger in response to adversity. I hope that the current challenges will lead to a revitalized commitment to gender equality and social justice.’

This series of interviews about feminism in today's polarized world and inspiring examples of grassroots activism is made possible by Hivos' Walking the Talk program

Wil je meepraten over een inclusieve toekomst? Kom dan op 24 september naar Pakhuis de Zwijger voor onze eerste Town Hall. Hierin gaan we met elkaar in gesprek over wat de plannen van dit nieuwe kabinet voor democratie en de internationale positie van Nederland betekenen. Wat is het gevolg voor burgers? En hoe kunnen organisaties die zich inzetten voor mensenrechten impact blijven maken?

Nederland is niet uniek. Overal ter wereld hebben conservatieve partijen en organisaties het afgelopen decennium meer voet aan de grond gekregen, met in verschillende landen (radicaal-)rechtse regeringen als gevolg. Regeringen die over het algemeen niet zo begaan zijn met zaken als vrouwenrechten, LHBTQI+-rechten of het klimaat. Lilith maakt i.s.m. Hivos en Pakhuis de Zwijger de balans op in onze eerste townhall, Democratie onder druk, waar we al het bovenstaande bespreken. Op 24 september gaan we aan de hand van een aantal thema’s en stellingen live met elkaar in gesprek in plaats van alleen op het internet. Kom ook en praat mee.

Inloop: 19.45 uur

Aanvang: 20.00 uur

Borrel/ Café: 22.00

Locatie: Pakhuis de Zwijger, Piet Heinkade 179, 1019 HC Amsterdam

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Interview, HivosHasna El MaroudiSeptember 6, 2024Hivos, Feminism, Politiek