The Polish feminist foundation Femininoteka found itself in financial difficulties after the decision of the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who ordered the suspension of abroad improvement assistance on 24 January and the provision of funds to NGOs worldwide. Among the organizations that may not receive support was Feminoteka. The Foundation was to receive PLN 250,000 from the US to be utilized to aid women experiencing sexual violence.
Frozen measures: Consequences for victims of violence
Feminoteka on its Facebook profile reported that over PLN 250,000 had been frozen due to the decision of the United States Administration. These funds were to be utilized for professional support for women who experienced sexual violence, both Poles and migrants.
"There are organisations whose work covers the areas of “abortion, household planning, diversity, equality, integration, transgender operations or another non-life-saving aid” (it is worth noting that most of the activities mentioned here contribute to life-saving activities)" says the Foundation's statement.
Femka and Training: 2 key areas at risk
The decision of the U.S. administration straight affects 2 key areas of Feminoteka's activities. The first is to lead Foms – the only post-rape aid point in Poland. The second aspect is training for employees and workers who may have contact in their professional activities with persons experiencing sexual force or force in an intimate relationship.
Joanna Gzyra-Iskandar, a spokesperson for Feminoteca, does not hide outrage at Donald Trump's decision. "Donald Trump is only president for 2 weeks and already signs 1 paper after another. The problem is that his 1 signature determines what happens on the another side of the planet and affects the fact that women experienced sexual force may not be helped. Of course, we do everything we can to prevent this from happening. At this point, everything is unchangeable and efficient, but we request to think about our financial situation," says Gzyra-Iskandar.
Conservative Backlash: Trump Policy Criticism
Feminoteka's activist besides draws attention to the wider context of Trump's decision. "If anyone has followed what Donald Trump was saying as a candidate for president of the United States, they should not be surprised. It's part of a conservative backlash that we can observe in different places around the world. It is about moving distant from the model of promoting equality, promoting the rights of women and minorities. And doing it aggressively. It is terrible that a man who is guided by specified anti-values sits in the seat of the leader of the USA" – Gzyra-Iskandar estimates.
What happens to helping victims of violence?
Feminoteka ensures that its operations are unchangeable and functioning smoothly. However, the foundation must now think about the future and search alternate sources of funding. Withholding funds from the US can have serious consequences for women who request aid after experiencing sexual violence.
Faced with these challenges, Feminoteka calls for support and solidarity. “This is not just our problem – it is the problem of all who believe in equality and human rights. We request support to proceed our mission," the foundation spokesperson emphasises.
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Polish feminist organization “Feminoteka” without financial support from the USA
