The 25th of November is the International Day for resistance against Gender-Based Violence. This violence is the most common unnatural cause of death for women, inter, non-binary, trans and agender persons (FINTA). This violence is most often perpetrated by cis men closest to the victims. Far too often, our own homes are the most dangerous places we can be in. This violence, these murders, these feminicides are not individual wrongdoings, but rather the result of a patriarchal society. A patriarchal and capitalist society is constructed on the exploitation of others. This society relies on strict adherence to gender roles. Housework, child-raising, emotional labour – in short, reproductive labour – are assigned to ‘women’ and are expected to be provided for free. This creates a power imbalance, dependency and exploitation between genders. Anyone who deviates from these roles, assigned gender or the gender binary, becomes a direct target of patriarchal violence.
Supposedly masculine ‘values’ gain (and are gaining) prominence. Manosphere influencers find resonance with their content garbage and spread hatred, violence and warmongering, coupled with extreme right-wing views. We must continually defend hard-won achievements such as abortion without penalty.

Warmongering is omnipresent. Here, countries increasingly arm themselves and pour money into wars, while social inequality is reaching repulsive levels, hitting FINTA individuals particularly harshly. There are more wars everywhere. The genocide in Gaza is an escalation of this violence.
Wars force people to flee. Women and genderqueer individuals are particularly at risk. Instances such as forced prostitution and trafficking (of women) are examples of this. In addition, gender-specific violence is an age-old war tactic. This includes deliberately sexualised violence. In war, vital infrastructure such as healthcare is often destroyed. Matters, such as hormone therapy, become nearly impossible, birth and pregnancy becomes life-threatening.
Patriarchal violence affects society as a whole, both here and worldwide.

However, we can fight back! The women's revolution in Rojava demonstrates how collective self-defence is possible. Self-defence is not just individual and selective resistance against everyday patriarchal attacks, but a collective force. We fight for our own spaces and achievements. Let’s organise ourselves against assault and exploitation by those in power. We stand in solidarity with everyone who takes to the streets on 25 November for a world without violence and exploitation!