Political violence is the major barrier to LGBTQ+ political participation. From Brazil to Mexico, our identities of gender, sexuality, and race are systematically sidelined. We respond with collective care. 🎙️ Alciana Paulino, research lead at @votelgbt.org and co-author of #CareAndCourage.

Solidarity is a commitment, not a trend. 🌍 During the #G20Summit side events co-hosted by #ColmenaFund, Brian Kagoro, Managing Director of Programs at @open-society.bsky.social#G20Summit#ColmenaFund,offered a powerful reflection on global advocacy. ✊🏾 Full speech coming soon! #SouthAfrica #GlobalSouth

History shows that women, especially those at the margins, transform crises into possibilities. ✨ The theme for this year’s #WorldDayOfSocialJustice is "Strengthening a Just Transition for a Sustainable Future." At #ColmenaFund, we believe you cannot have a sustainable future without a safe one.

"We don't inherit peace. We build it, generation by generation, voice by voice." 🌎🌍🌏 🎙️Powerful words from Samia El Hashmi, a Sudanese lawyer, who sees women’s leadership not as a luxury, but as a lifeline for conflict zones and fragile democracies. 🎥 Full speech coming soon. Stay tuned.

While the #G20Summit discussed "Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability" in Johannesburg, #ColmenaFund gathered 40+ women political leaders to ensure these words became a reality for Africa and the Global South. 🌍✨ 📺 Watch the highlights from our side events co-hosted with allies and partners.

Violence should never be the price of LGBTQ+ political participation. 🏳️‍🌈✊🏽 We were honored to be present at the Mexican Senate alongside our partners @yaajmexico.bsky.social and @votelgbt.org for the powerful launch of the book "Care and Courage: LGBTphobic Political Violence in Brazil."

Online violence isn't just a tech issue—it’s a tool for exclusion. Reflecting on #SaferInternetDay, we know online violence is an extension of offline violence, designed to keep women out of power. Our hive is fighting back. ✊🏽 #ColmenaFund is resourcing 50+ partners to counter TFGBV. 🐝✨

🔴Join the presentation of, our partners, VoteLGBT book "Care and Courage: Facing LGBTphobic Political Violence in Brazil", from the Mexican Senate: https://www.youtube.com/live/e7XvZ09IbxA?si=b4_VgU1EpviyUjiH

Colmena Fund invites you to join VoteLGBT, Yaaj México, and Sen. Celeste Ascencio for the presentation of the book “Care and Courage: LGBTphobic Political Violence in Brazil” with an incredible panel. 🗓 Monday, Feb 9 | 10:00 AM (GMT-6) 📍 YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/@CanalCongresoMx

🎙️ Women closest to the community are closest to the solution. In our Season 1 finale of #ResistPersistReimagine, Mariam Jalabi breaks down why grassroots leadership is the key to building systems that actually work for everyone. 🐝 🎬 Full conversation: https://youtu.be/Hpduz2TOBjU #ColmenaFund

🎙️Suyen Barahona, Executive Director of #ColmenaFund, reminds us that our work in the Global South is about more than just showing up—it’s about reshaping the environment through solidarity and alliances, so women can redefine and transform systems. Join our hive 🐝

The #WIM2026 report launches at #GWLVoicesDialogue2026! 🌍 See how women’s leadership is shaping a stronger multilateral system for the 21st century. 🏛️ 🔴Watch live: https://www.linkedin.com/events/the2026womeninmultilateralismre7416513056337461248/theater/ #WomenInMultilateralism #GlobalGovernance

Our Program Lead, Ostalinda Maya, will represent #ColmenaFund at the GWL Voices Dialogue 2026 “Women Leading the UN of the 21st Century” ✨ We are bringing our vision to accelerate women's political power in the Global South. Stay tuned for updates! Join the hive. 🐝 #GWLVoicesDialogue #WIM2026

🎙️This powerful speech by Hon. Mmapaseka Steve Letsike reclaims the "scars" many carry in the fight for justice and equality. She speaks to the reality of the body as a site of both struggle and resistance, offering a vision of leadership that is deeply human and transfromative. #ColmenaFund

"We are everywhere." 🏳️‍🌈✨ From healthcare to politics, the queer community has always been present—building excellence in the face of exclusion. Watch the full conversation with Gui Mohallem from @votelgbt.org: https://youtu.be/6v2AtsDGJHU

For too long, we’ve seen a "historic mess," but the tide is turning. As women, we are the visionaries who must prevent a second colonization. ✊🏾✨ Watch the powerful insights of Hon. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka (former Deputy President of #SouthAfrica and former ED of UN Women). #ColmenaFund

Despite the promise of a minimum quota for women’s participation in South Sudan’s peace agreement, women continue to be underrepresented in decision making. The failure to ensure inclusivity demonstrates is a significant example of the fragility of the peace process www.elkara.ma/news/lack-of...

In episode 9 of #ResistPersistReimagine, we speak with Bonnita Nyamwire, Head of Research in our partner organization @pollicy.bsky.social#ResistPersistReimagine, about the systemic barriers women face in politics; from online spaces to parliaments. 🎬🐝 Watch, subscribe and share!

🌍 When Women Lead: Reimagining Political Power from #Syria to the World. Our latest blog post shares the powerful vision of Mariam Jalabi, co-founder of the Syrian Women’s Political Movement. #ResistPersistReimagine

In ep. 8 of #ResistPersistReimagine, Hibaaq Osman from @el-karama.bsky.social#ResistPersistReimagine, exposes a critical truth: violence against women is a calculated political tactic used by authoritarian regimes. Resisting it is central to build and sustain democratic societies. Watch here:

💥 What does it mean to hold onto hope when democracy collapses? In Ep. 7 of #ResistPersistReimagine, Adela Raz offers a moving reflection on feminist leadership, resilience, and maintaining hope in the face of profound repression. 🎬 Watch here:

🚨 Digital violence is a political issue that threatens democracy. In our latest blog post, we unpack essential insights from Bonnita Nyamwire, Head of Research at @pollicy.bsky.social, revealing how Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence is impacting women in politics across #Africa.

In episode 6 of Resist, Persist and Reimagine, we feature Kunthida Rungruengkiat, former Thai MP and Director of the Progressive Movement Foundation. 🎙️ Watch the full episode now!  🎧 The complete podcast series is available on most audio platforms.

As we close 2025, our conviction is clear: we have witnessed the extraordinary courage of women political leaders, movement builders, and our partners—proving what is still possible when we act collectively.

We are still assesing what the 2024 Super Election Year meant for women's participation in politics. 👉 See the full data, challenges, and context.

What does it truly take to build a democracy that represents all its people? Hear the powerful vision of Hibaaq Osman, founder and CEO of @el-karama.bsky.social (a leading feminist movement across 13 MENA countries).

“Democracy needs redefinition.” In this episode, the Managing Director of Programs at @open-society.bsky.social, Laleh Ispahani, shares a compelling vision of inclusive democracy—rooted in feminist leadership, political courage, and systemic transformation.

What does feminist political leadership look like in #Thailand? Episode 6 of our podcast features Kunthida Rungruengkiat, young political leader, former MP, academic, and Director of our partner organization Progressive Movement Foundation (PMF).

🎙️ Symmy Larrat made history as the first travesti to lead as Brazil’s National Secretary for the Rights of LGBTQ+ People. 🗓️ Watch the full conversation now in the video edition of our podcast series.  #ResistPersistReimagine #ColmenaFund #Brazil #LGBTQrepresentation

🐝Our hive's impact in numbers! After the global "Super Election Year," the Colmena Fund's inaugural cohort of grantees focused on a powerful long-term strategy: sustaining hard-won gains and strengthening the entire feminist political ecosystem.

What happens when diverse women lead? 🌎🌍🌏 We asked our partners and allies, and their responses speak volumes about transformation, equity, hope, liberation, and peace.🔥🐝 Watch the full reel and share your response in the comments! #WhenWomenLead #FeministLeadership #ColmenaFund #ColmenaForChange

#HumanRightsDay marks the end of the #16DaysOfActivism — and it reminds us that there is no real democracy if women from diverse backgrounds cannot participate in politics safely. Globally, nearly 1 in 3 women experience physical or sexual violence; digital abuse affects millions.

✨ We continue sharing powerful insights from the Colmena Fund convening on the margins of the G20 Summit for #16DaysOfActivism, amplifying the vision of diverse women political leaders from the Global South. Read the full reflections of @ayachebbi.bsky.social and our ED Suyen Barahona 👇

🌍🐝 At our convening during #G20Summit, Tabitha Oluoch, Winnie Kiiza and @natashakimani.bsky.social offered reflections that continue to resonate. We invite you to read their words, share and join the hive. #16DaysOfActivism #ColmenaFund #WomenInPolitics

Funding leaders isn't enough — fund the hive that makes leadership possible. Bina Maseno names the essentials: care, learning, digital civic infrastructure and long-term pipelines so leaders can emerge and thrive. We’re resourcing these ecosystems. 🐝  #16DaysOfActivism

Our Program Officer, Lucinda van der Heever, participated in the 7th Pan Africa #ILGA Regional Conference in #SouthAfrica. The event brought together over 400 African LGBTQ+ individuals to envision queer African futures under this year's powerful theme #Unbreakable: Our Pride, Our Power, Our Future

🧡 On this year's #16DaysOfActivism, we’re amplifying the voices of women who refuse to be pushed out of public life. "I carry scars of online violence and political gatekeeping, yet I stand here because of African women who resisted and paved the way." - Hon. Mmapaseka Steve Letsike #WomenInPolitics

On the second day of Colmena Fund's convening, diverse women leaders reflected on the future of women's political power and its trajectory over the coming years. ✨🌍

🗣️ A LUTA CONTINUA: On Nov. 21, many of the attendees at Colmena Fund’s convening during #G20 joined a campaign to elevate the urgency of addressing the high rates of gender-based violence and femicide #GBVF, including a 15-minute lay-down to honour the 15 women murdered daily in #SouthAfrica.

📣 “No democracy can thrive while women are unsafe, unheard, or structurally denied the freedom to participate fully in the political life of their country.” — Hon. Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Republic of #SouthAfrica.

Tomorrow! 📅 November 19, 2025 – #SouthAfrica Online attacks, harassment, and disinformation are being used to push women out of politics and shrink democratic space. At our #G20 side event, we’ll bring together women in politics at the frontlines, including our Executive Director, Suyen Barahona.

“Democracy must ensure parity. There is no democracy with racism, exclusion, transphobia, homophobia, or lesbophobia”: Epsy Campbell in Ep. 3 of #ResistPersistReimagine. 🎬Watch the full conversation with the former VP of #CostaRica, and member of our Steering Committee:

🇿🇦🐝 Next week, our hive will co-host two high-level side events during the #G20Summit: 📅 Nov. 19 – “From Protection to Counteraction: Advancing Online Safety for Women in Politics”. This event will share solutions and lived experiences from #WomenInPolitics on the frontlines of digital violence.

🎙 In Episode 2 of our podcast series #ResistPersistReimagine, we were honored to welcome Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, former ED of @unwomen.bsky.social  and former Deputy President of South Africa. 📽 Watch the full interview, subscribe and share! 🔗

As we mark 25 years of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325, the Women, Peace and Security agenda is more urgent than ever. 🐝 At #ColmenaFund, we are building a dedicated grantmaking portfolio to support grassroots women's movements, and empower exiled leaders working toward lasting peace.

🎥 Don't miss the video edition of #ResistPersistReimagine! 🎙️ Episode 1: Suyen Barahona, ED of #ColmenaFund, on her journey from political exile to building a fund dedicated to advance women’s political power in the #GlobalSouth. Watch now: https://youtu.be/w4uzX5Hr93w #WomenInPolitics

🌟 From the Amazon to Brazil’s federal government: Symmy Larrat’s journey of resilience and leadership. 🌟

The hive is on the move in Europe this week 🐝 📍Oct 22–23 | Paris: 4th Ministerial Conference on Feminist Foreign Policies 📍Oct 24–26 | Lucerne: Gender Equality Conference "Advancing Feminist Political Leadership and Securing Peace" Spotlighting women’s political power across the Global South.

✨ As we commemorate the African Charter’s entry into force, we reaffirm our mission: supporting women in politics, especially from marginalized backgrounds, who champion #democracy and #humanrights. Promoting human rights includes women’s rights to participate in politics. Learn more: colmena.fund

🌎📣 1 in 4 people in Latin America & the Caribbean are of African descent—yet power still excludes them We share reflections from Epsy Campbell on building real democracy. ⬇️ #WomenInPolitics #AfroWomen #ColmenaFund