Feminism & Gender

The programme "Europe for Citizens" pools activities fostering tolerance promotion, gender equality and the protection of fundamental rights.

Ten experts from eight different countries share their views and perceptions of the assaults committed on New Year’s Eve in Cologne. A contribution to the ongoing debate on sexualised violence and harassment in Germany.

The mass-scale sexual assaults in Cologne, Germany have inspired a political blame-game—but condemning women’s conduct or Europe’s open border policies won’t serve the victims of Cologne or the refugees who continue to need our protection.

For intersex people and their concerns, 2015 was a very important year because it saw intersex issues being thrust more and more into the spotlight of European and international policy making. Caroline Ausserer talks about these developments with Dan Christian Ghattas, co-chair of OII Europe, the umbrella organization of European human rights-based intersex NGOs.

Thida Khus is the Executive Director of SILAKA, a Cambodian NGO that has been working since 1997 to increase the participation of women in Cambodia. Thida will be speaking at the Heinrich Böll Foundation about the situation of women in Southeast Asia.

The Heinrich Boell Foundation (HBF) in the South Caucasus (SC) contributes to the democratization process of the countries of the SC. We support initiatives, which form and strengthen an inclusive political culture that opens room for public participation on democratic development, socio-ecological transformation and gender democracy.

Ranjana Kumari is a veteran Indian feminist who has been following the International Women’s Conferences since Nairobi in 1985. We talked with her about women’s rights and gender equity in India.

Beijing+20 - Desafios e conquistas das mulheres no Brasil - Fundação Heinrich Böll Brasil Watch on YouTube This external content requires your consent. Please note our privacy policy. The Heinrich-Böll-Foundation Brazil asked four female Experts from different generations to reflect the progress of women’s rights in Brazil since 1995.

Rural women increasingly come to be seen as vital agents in response to climate change. Disproportionately affected by it's impacts, these women also have a critical role in combating the weather changes, analyses Camila Moreno.

In Brazil, despite symbolic political actions, commitment still has not moved beyond words concerning women's reporductive rights. HBS interviews Guacira de Oliveira, from CFEMEA – Feminist Center for Studies and Counseling, a Brazilian feminist organization

In Brazil, women of color face double discrimination because of their gender and skin color. Most often, they live in favelas - the slums of the poor at the cities' outskirts. Manoela Vianna reports about three women who fight for a change

Do Brazil's women have an equal share in politics? Despite the 2014 election of a woman prime minister - Dilma Roussef - Brazil is far from gender equality. An analysis by Marilene de Paula. 

The “Women Who Get Around Group” show how to denounce sexism with humor and satire.

In our interview Jim Chuchu, director of the film "The Stories of Our Lives" and Njoki Ngumi (screenplay) explain their motivation to realize the film. 

Declining sex ratios due to decades of discrimination against women in certain parts of India have left many men unmarried. An interview about cross-regional marriage migration with Ravinder Kaur.

Slovakia’s referendum “on the family” ended on 7 February 2015 in a fiasco that no one anticipated.

With the attacks on the French magazine "Charlie Hebdo", a new debate on free speech started, aksing i.e. where does freedom of expression end and where do xenophobia and defamation begin? Does Islam allow for critical self-reflection? In 2011 we organized a conference in Beirut, adressing those question. A documentation.

Humaira Saqeeb was born in Kabul in 1982, during her school years she was a refugee. Today she is editor-in-chief of the "Women News Agency" and member of the “Women Political Participation Committee”. We talked to her about the ongoing violence against women in Afghanistan.

Basigul Sharifi writes poems about love and tragedy in life. She has experienced the life of a refugee and is a sensitive, calm but highly motivated person. In the interview she talks to us about poetry, peace and suffering.

Simia Ramish is a civil rights activist and journalist. As a candidate in the Herat provincial council election she aims to play an active role in politics. In this interview she explains her goals and wishes for Afghanistan.