Throughout the world, entrenched systems of colonialism and racism systematically complicate the lives of Black and Brown women, girls, and gender diverse individuals, subjecting them to discrimination based on their race. This systemic racism manifests in various forms, including unequal access to opportunities, resources, and power based on race. It perpetuates disparities in education, employment, healthcare, housing, and criminal justice, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities of color. This entrenched discrimination not only undermines the well-being and opportunities of individuals but also perpetuates cycles of poverty and social inequality across generations.
Women’s Link Worldwide is committed to anti-colonial and anti-racist feminist principles, and aims to prioritize and address these intersecting marginalizations, striving for a fairer and more equitable global society. By acknowledging and addressing the pervasive influence of racism, we can work towards dismantling these oppressive structures.
The “Voces Valientes” (“Brave Voices”) report, a three-year study conducted by Women’s Link in collaboration with Asociación de Mujeres Asociación de Mujeres Afrodescendientes del Norte del Cauca (ASOM), examined the impact of the armed conflict on black women in Northern Cauca, Colombia. It highlighted the intersection of racism, gender discrimination, and class inequality in a male-dominated society, curtailing rights and limiting opportunities for black women. Focusing on events from 1985 to 2019, the research revealed the specific challenges faced by black women in the region during the conflict.
The study exposes human rights violations during the occupation by the paramilitary group ‘Bloque Calima’ from 1999 to 2004. Members of the group invaded homes, stole crops, and subjected women to racial slurs and degrading treatment. The report details sexual violence, including lewd remarks, groping, and harassment, with women living in constant fear of rape. The paramilitaries, having deprived them of income, exploited young women for “relationships” or raped them.
Due to forced displacement, their journey to the cities for better opportunities often led to employment as domestic workers, where they faced further harassment, violence, racism, and labor rights violations. The study highlights the impact on education, as generations of black women were denied access, perpetuating exclusion from educational and employment opportunities. Traditional childrearing practices were disrupted, and many women became separated from their children, facing economic hardships due to low wages.
The report sheds light on the complex challenges faced by black women during the armed conflict, emphasizing the need for justice, acknowledgment, and support for the unique struggles of this community. The organizations also presented six representative cases to the Truth Commission of Colombia, which heard from victims and other participants in the armed conflict and learnt what happened in over half a century of war.
