Last week, I shared what I discussed on a panel about ‘Forgotten’ Crises and Implications for Women, Peace, and Security.
This is part two of that series, where I share my answers to two more questions:
What kinds of advocacy strategies work, and what should we all be doing more of?
While I wasn’t able to cover all forgotten crises, I hope these takeaways create conditions not only to remember them but to do something about them.
*A 5-minute read.
Advocacy Strategy 1: Identify the Right Target Audience.
The target audience for turning forgotten crises into remembered ones isn’t politicians; it’s the people who vote for them.
You need to understand your audience.
Your target audience is people with 2 or more jobs, student loans, variable-rate mortgages, people commuting for 2+ hours to and from work, steel workers, farmers, folks working in forestry and fishing, 634 Indigenous Nations (if you’re in Canada), and all those in the community who support these people’s families.
They are the people you need to reach.
Believe it or not, politicians listen when they’re in jeopardy of losing their seat on the town or city council, in the provincial or federal government.
A politician wields no power if constituents speak up, but how do you get them to speak up?
Advocacy Strategy 2: Make it Easy. Make it Automatic.
The way you get voters to take time out of their busy days to keep living and try to enjoy the little time they have to relax is…
- Write copy for specific advocacy asks.
- Give them clear directions to copy and paste into emails to send to their MPs and MPPs.
- Give them email addresses of relevant ministers and links to find their government representative and municipal counsellor’s email addresses.
- Provide directions on how to automate emails to be sent daily, weekly, or monthly.
- Manage expectations for how much time this would take, such as 30 minutes total for 3-6 months of automated activism emails.
Use these suggestions to think of other ways to make it easy and automatic?
Advocacy Strategy 3: Implement Recommendations
Go back to the recommendations already out there and determine which ones you want to focus on.
Amplify them consistently at work, in parliament, and on social media.
Advocacy Strategy 4: Be Accountable Without Losing Funding
Organizations tip-toe around the hard asks like telling governments and private companies to: “Stop genocide.” and “Stop selling arms used to kill people.”
It is arguably easier to advocate for humanitarian aid or development and keep your funding intact.
If you speak to the real underlying root problem, you could very well lose your funding.
So, victims, survivors, advocates and human rights defenders tell you what they need, and if the consequences of advocating for them jeopardize your organization’s ability to exist, be clear.
Tell them what you are doing and what you can’t do.
This does two things.
- It makes it clear that you are already taking steps, not just asking them to repeat what they have likely recommended time and time again.
- This creates clarity about what they can realistically expect from you.
Then ask them, given the circumstances, “What can you do?”
Consider this example of what you could say:
“I can’t take a stand on genocide. What can I do within these parameters that still helps?”
If you’re thinking: “Whew! Jo, that’s a bit too frank!”
You’re right. It is. It’s honest.
And what I’m learning is that it’s kind to be honest.
Having worked with people impacted by racism, dehumanization, and genocide, I can tell you that this level of honesty is appreciated.
They don’t have to hope you care or that you want to take a stand (even if you do care). It helps them shift focus to what you can and will do.
Will they judge you? Yes.
Will some turn their backs on you and go somewhere else, making you feel ashamed for not standing up for them? Yes.
Don’t stop there.
Accept the labour of those experiencing dehumanization and racism who are willing to meet you where you’re at and share what you can do in your limited role.
There’s a role for everyone.
Resist responding to victims, survivors, advocates and human rights defenders when they ask you for specific help with,“Yes, but.”
Your actions, or lack of sufficient action, instead of helping, deplete the energy of people who have no option but to keep going.
As Omar El Akkad says:
“For some, the worst plausible thing might be the ending of their bloodline in a missile strike….for others the worst plausible thing is being yelled at.”
Be kind by being honest.
Advocacy Strategy 5: Ask Better Questions
Finally, ask questions that are clear, direct, and prompt accountability from people with decision-making power.
Instead of: What are you doing to address the crisis? Ask questions like:
- What specific steps are you taking to stop sending arms to Israel?
- What legal and on-the-ground steps are you taking to seek justice for Palestinians facing ethnic cleansing in Gaza and the West Bank?
- What specific steps are being taken to stop the arms sales to Saudi Arabia that are being used in Yemen and killing Yemenis?
- What are the ways you are leveraging pressure on the Taliban to respect and protect the rights of women and girls, end gender persecution, and enable the space for women’s meaningful participation in social, political, and cultural spheres?
- What specific steps are you taking to deliver humanitarian funding directly to local grassroots volunteers and civil society groups inside Sudan to bypass blockades by combatants?
As I write this, I can hear some of you saying, “Jo, you’re being naïve. We can lose funding and have our voices completely shut down for asking any of these. They’re undiplomatic.”
My response is: You’re right.
AND, instead of saying, “We can’t.” I’m asking you to ask, “How can we?”
If we don’t ask this question, with clarity about what we are willing to risk and what we are not, crises will remain forgotten. People continue to experience dehumanization and extinction.
Here’s what I know for sure:
We will never experience equity and peace around the world if we don’t learn how to give, receive, and act on feedback; stop gaslighting; and start having difficult conversations with skill, courage and grace.
So, stay tuned. Upcoming posts will focus on these themes.
Until then,
A nod of respect from me to you.
You are taking the time and investing your energy in something worthwhile:
To be empowered to make a difference.
P.S. If you want coaching in leadership, giving, receiving and acting on feedback, difficult conversations, advancing your career, learn more here.
P.P.S. If you want these posts to land directly in your inbox and/or want to be the first to learn about upcoming courses like How to Give, Receive and Act on Feedback, sign-up here.