Our C.E.O Naimah Hassan had the privilege of presenting at Building New Solidarities, the inaugural meeting hosted by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) in partnership with The Other Foundation. This impactful event convened 250 representatives from over 50 countries, including civil society leaders, activists, government personnel, and donors managing more than $140 million in foreign assistance funding.
With over 300 participants in attendance, the gathering served as a critical platform to address urgent global challenges, such as democratic backsliding and shrinking civic space. Through collaborative discussions and shared best practices, we worked together to strengthen human rights protections for marginalized communities worldwide.
As Co-founder and CEO of the African Women Rights Advocate (AWRA), Ms Naimah participated in a panel discussion on Faith and Human Rights, moderated by Ganesh Singh from the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities. Joined on the panel by Baboucarr Mbye from Freedom House and Yahia Zaidi from the Global Interfaith Network. Together, they explored the intersection of faith, inclusion, and human rights, highlighting innovative approaches to promote dignity and equality for marginalized populations.
During the discussion, Ms Naimah shared AWRA’s work engaging religious leaders to address Gender-based Violence like Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). With over 200 million women and girls affected globally and another 68 million at risk by 2030 FGM is a stark example of violence against women rooted in patriarchal systems. In this breakout session, ideas of how to engage with religious leaders were explored as well as ideas for fostering sustainable, community-driven change.
Key Takeaways from the Panel and Conference:
- Collaborative Efforts: Panelists underscored the value of alliances between human rights defenders, faith leaders, and civil society organizations to address interconnected challenges such as FGM, child marriage, and gender-based violence.
- Inclusive Messaging: Culturally and faith-sensitive advocacy approaches were highlighted as essential for building trust and fostering acceptance within communities.
Sustainable Support: Participants called for long-term, flexible funding from donors and governments to enable systemic and impactful transformations.
About the author
Naimah Hassan is a London-based leader and women’s rights activist. She has been involved in the international development area for 13 years and is specialized in media, campaigning, advocacy and communications. She also serves as a program director at the global media campaign to end FGM and a champion for African women’s rights as well.