IWD24 interview: Riya Williams Yuyada, South Sudan
Riya Williams Yuyada
Founder, Crown the Woman, South Sudan
Riya Williams Yuyada, is Co-Founder of Crown the Woman, a women-led national grassroots organization in South Sudan that aims to foster a future with zero tolerance for inequality, inequity and injustices that affect women and children.
Riya’s own experiences of conflict and displacement led her to a career as a peacebuilder, human rights champion and gender justice activist. Whilst working at camps for internally displaced people, Riya co-founded Play for Peace an organization that teaching children peace through games. In June 2018 she gave an inspiring talk at Kakuma Camp, Kenya, at the first TEDx event ever held in a refugee camp.
Riya is alumna of the 2018, Women’s Human Rights Institute at the University of Toronto, the 2017 Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership program on education and women’s activism, the 2016 Young African Leadership Program, the Feminist Leadership, Movement Building and Rights Institute East Africa and the 2015 Nobel Women’s Initiative’s Sister-to-Sister Mentorship program. She is also a fellow of Akili Dada, a leadership incubator nurturing the next generation of African women leaders. In 2021 she received a Ginetta Sagan Foundation award from Amnesty International USA honoring her activism.
Learn more about Crown the Woman, South Sudan.
What does feminism mean to you in 2024?
“To me, feminism in 2024 is a revolution that is teaching me to dance and navigate round the patriarchy’s ever-changing goal posts. In 2024 we hear lots of talk about feminism, about empowering women and girls but we still don't see the funding, we still don’t see the flexibility we need to actually do our work. We are still witnessing a backlash against feminism, people who are against women’s rights. There still exists a view that says “educate women, but not too much.” In the face of these challenges the FHN and organizations, like mine, Crown the Woman are pushing back!”
If you could raise more awareness about a humanitarian issue or context what would it be and what do you want people to know?
“One thing I really think we need to raise awareness about is abuse and violations against women human rights defenders and also the mental health of women human rights defenders, feminist activists and humanitarians that are doing the frontline work to protect and uphold the rights of women, girls and marginalized people.”
What do you think is currently the biggest obstacle to achieving gender justice?
“Of course the biggest obstacle to gender justice is the patriarchy! We need feminist governments. Right now there is not enough funding to achieve gender justice and what there is has no flexibility to account for the challenges that WROs working in the Global South face. At present we have a situation where if we are even invited to international meetings, we cannot get a visa to attend. Even for online meetings - we face challenges to our internet connection that obstructs our leadership in important spaces. These challenges persist as we are still living in a patriarchal and colonial world. There are also so many emerging crises that impact our work: the climate emergency, Ukraine, Gaza and the Covid-19 pandemic, which really impacted us. In South Sudan, these crises have shifted funding away from our work.”
What does being a member of the Feminist Humanitarian Network mean to you?
“To me the FHN is a space of belonging - it is a family! It is a space that empowers us - it has empowered me as Riya, and also my organization Crown the Women - making us part of a global village. We are far apart geographically, but online we connect and work together around the world as a family.”
What is happening in the world today that gives you the most hope that we can one day achieve a fairer and more equal world?
“What gives me hope is that despite the pushbacks - we continue! One thing recently that gave me hope was seeing South Africa’s case against Israel at the ICJ. Seeing the female lawyer leading that case was inspiring and great to see Africa rising up! We are continuing to fight for a better world, amid the chaos.”
In for 2024
“Women being at the forefront of decision making and being valued, being resourced! Dignified and thriving!”
Out for 2024
“Patriarchy, colonialism and neocolonialism and climate change!”