A collective of feminist activists and over 600 women’s rights organisations from around the world came together to put pressure on the United Nations (UN) following their partnership with BlackRock Inc - one of the world’s most lucrative investing firms. 

BlackRock Inc is the largest known holder of debt in the Global South, and invests in development projects that directly cause environmental destruction and irreparable harm to indigenous communities and rural women. 

Their campaign was a success and the UN ended the partnership. This is a huge victory for women's rights movements and activism! 

Read on for more examples of women and girls making a difference, as well as how we can fight climate change. 👇🏾👇🏻👇🏿

Things we love

♀️ Women are on the front line of climate change, yet they are often excluded from decision-making. Here’s why “more women at the top would help create a more just, innovative and ambitious response to climate change.”

🎨 Check out TheGreats.co for free social impact art. Their artwork is available to use and adapt non-commercially to advocate for a fairer world for women, girls, and trans people.

🎵 For International Women’s Day, we asked you to share your favourite girl power songs for the ultimate girl-power playlist!  

🐢Tricia Hersey connects the energy and ideology of slavery and white supremacy to the grind capitalist culture of today. In this podcast, she tells us how to slow down and dream ourselves free.

Things you can do

💡 The Sheila McKechnie Foundation has been researching what makes successful change-makers. Here are 12 habits you can develop.

🌍 A key meeting with global leaders about climate change called COP27 will take place from 6-18 November. Young people are demanding their voices be heard there. Send your message to leaders at the event. 

❗ Plans to build a crude oil pipeline in East Africa would lead to widespread displacement of communities, and cause serious risk to their environment, water, and wetlands. Add your name to the petition to stop this project, and send a message to the nine students arrested for peaceful protest against the pipeline.

Poll: What do you think are the most important tactics for delivering social change?

ONE lobbying those in power (insider advocacy)
Strong public campaigns (mobilising the public)
Powerful media headlines (gaining news coverage)
All of the above working closely together

Tell us what you think and we'll share the poll results in next month's newsletter...

People changing the World: Lilia Touil

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

My name is Lilia Touil, I am 22 years old, and I live in Paris. I’m a master's student in International and European law at the Université Paris Cité. 

Coming from an underprivileged background without the same access to opportunities as my peers, I developed a sensitivity to human rights and a desire to help people so they don’t have to live through the same experience.

Can you tell us about the work you do?

Together with my studies, I am also gaining experience in advocacy work as an activist for ONE in France and for the Global Partnership for Education (GPE).

As a ONE Activist, I co-led a group effort with other activists to write an open letter to the French president urging him to support education for children living in extreme poverty through the GPE. I also met with several French deputies to raise awareness and gain their support.

Last year, as part of ONE’s Europe-Africa Task force, I collaborated with African and European activists on proposals for education, health, job creation, transparency, and other key areas to renew the Europe/Africa partnership ahead of the Europe Africa Summit last February. We met with African and European decision-makers to present our demands.

As a national youth leader with GPE,  I recently took part in the pre-summit on transformation at UNESCO in Paris, where I delivered a speech on the importance of investing in education for young people, and especially for young women.

Why is ending extreme poverty and preventable disease important to you?

Being aware of the difficulties some people face makes us realise how lucky we are. I believe that everyone should have access to the same possibilities no matter where they come from. Extreme poverty denies access to fundamental rights like health and education. 

I know that changing the world can seem idealistic, but I believe that any action, no matter how small, can make a change.

How do you stay motivated to do this work? And how do you like to spend your time outside work?

At times, it can be hard to stay motivated and active. I take time to realise the efforts I’ve made and remember how far I’ve come. My mother used to tell me, “where there is life, there is hope.” 

I draw strength from my personal story and from the hope and resilience I see in the people I meet, and want to inspire in others. That’s what I hope to do through the podcast I recently launched called Eye Face Hope.

Outside of work, I love listening to music, podcasts, reading, going to cultural places like museums, and attending conferences. I enjoy connecting with people with similar interests from around the world, which is something I’m lucky to be able to do as a ONE activist.

📺 Watch Lilia’s video on why activism is important to her.

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