CSW70 & Feminist Partnerships

In March, partners from Footage Foundation joined Project Kesher at the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) in New York, taking part in thoughtful conversations and meaningful side events focused on peace, gender, and women’s leadership. During CSW, our partners at Footage participated in four events, including a feminist pop-up where the team shared the FemSMS project, and a fireside chat moderated by Footage Executive Director Dr. Kristen Ali Eglinton as part of the Women’s Leadership Advancing Disarmament, Justice and the Culture of Peace event. These conversations highlighted the power of women’s voices in peace processes and the importance of feminist approaches to conflict, recovery, and leadership.

On the ground, the collaboration with Footage’s FemSMS initiative continues to deepen and grow. First launched in Ukraine in 2022, FemSMS has developed into a trauma-informed SMS information service that has reached thousands of women and LGBTQIA+ people affected by war and displacement. Developed with Project Kesher and Project Kesher Ukraine, the model has now sent more than 50,000 messages and continues to reach over 12,000 people each week, offering trusted information, comfort, and connection. Building directly on this foundation, FemSMS is now expanding into New York City through FemSMS: Pride Edition, with support from NYC Pride’s Pride Gives Back grant and in collaboration with trans, immigrant, and exiled LGBTQIA+ New Yorkers. At the same time, Footage and Project Kesher have submitted a new Ukraine-focused concept note under the EU’s EU4CSOs in Ukraine programme, through Footage’s French association, to continue strengthening feminist, community-based responses to war, domestic violence, and anti-gender backlash across Ukraine and neighbouring countries.