Request for video testimonies: Passing on the torch: The legacy of the Beijing Platform for Action

Passing on the torch:

The legacy of the Beijing Platform for Action and new, grassroots feminist movements

Request for video testimonies

Building on the political momentum of the 20^th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action, the Foundation for European Progressives Studies (FEPS) would like to launch an initiative to bring in the political debate on gender equality the claims of young, grassroots feminist movements.

Background

The Beijing Platform has been of major political affluence and especially relevant bearing in mind that it was highly shaped by women’s NGOs and movements. Beijing is considered to be The political momentum in the gender policy area. However, 20 years after, in 2015, it seems that the process has lost its closeness with grassroots feminist movements. Even mainstream, institutionalised and professionalized NGOs have difficulties in getting their claims on the discussion table, and in the meantime, grassroots feminist movements demands are lost. Once heavily invested to the grassroots movement, Beijing no longer tends to be owned nor recognized by many activists and younger generation feminists. The awareness by the grassroots movements of the Beijing Platform is very low.

Objectives

The objective of the initiative is to point out how this new generation of feminists has been gradually left on the margins of both the Beijing process and the EU gender equality consultations. It aims to give grounds to them and push for a more inclusive political approach when it comes to their claims.

Request for video testimonies

To mark the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment on 26 September 2015, self-recorded video testimonies will be gathered on the FEPS website from current grassroots feminist movements in Europe.

For who? Feminist activists below the age of 35.                 

What? We would kindly ask you to address in your brief audiovisual testimony: 1.) Do you know about the Beijing Platform for Action? 2.) How do you position yourself with regards to the Beijing Platform? 3.) What would be your demands to the global leaders? The testimonies should be. Submission is on a voluntary, unremunerated basis. We encourage self-made recordings in a free format.

When? Please, send the video testimonies by the latest 25 September 2015.

How? You can share the testimonies either by email, Dropbox, WeTransfer etc. with Judit Tanczos, FEPS Policy Advisor, judit.tanczos@feps-europe.eu.

We are very much looking forward and thank you in advance for your valuable contribution!