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The Kettering Foundation has a longstanding commitment to research on democracy and the challenges it faces worldwide. The change in the foundation’s mission and recent implementation of its new strategic plan have broadened the focus on democratic governance to emphasize inclusivity. This move has included a recognition of intersectional feminist perspectives in shaping politics. These circumstances have prompted a group of feminist scholars and activists from the Global South—Nadia Leila Aissaoui, Zuhra Halimova, and Ibtesam Al-Atiyat—to think about starting a global intersectional feminist network dedicated to exploring and advocating for democratic governance through an intersectional feminist lens. The urgency of this network and its research and discussion agenda is further prompted by the emergence of anti-feminist discourses worldwide and the need to ensure that the interests and rights of women, girls, and LGBTQIA+ communities are fully considered and protected within global democratic discourse and initiatives.
We see the network as being committed to the core principles of inclusivity, sustainability, and intersectionality. Our goal is to come together in solidarity and develop a research agenda through collaborative discussions rooted in real-life experiences, activism, and critical scholarship. We invite you to join us in shaping and launching this network on Friday, July 5. Our inaugural event, a webinar, will be a discussion centered on the following questions:
- From your perspective, what is the state of democracy in the world and in your country?
- How can democracy be made more inclusive and intersectional? Are there examples from your work, your country, or from across the globe that you can cite?
- What measures need to be taken to enhance the inclusivity and intersectionality of political processes globally?
We envision this event as an exercise in thinking, documenting, and imagining. Each question will be allocated 30 minutes. Our interaction will be moderated without undermining the free exchange of ideas.
Be part of this transformative conversation and help us drive positive change for Indigenous people globally. Your voice is vital--let's unite to shape a stronger, more resilient future.
We look forward to meeting you in this space!
Nadia Leila Aissaoui, Ibtesam Al-Atiyat, Zuhra Halimova
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