Fenya Fischler is an experienced organizer and researcher who has worked within the fields of human rights, feminism, drug policy and migration for over a decade. Most recently, she worked for the Association for Women’s Rights (AWID), in the Co-Creating Feminist Realities team, where she focused on creating spaces for feminist and broader social justice activists to build connections across movements and regions.She also co-led work to create stronger linkages between drug policy, harm reduction and feminist movements in order to build common agendas and resist criminalisation. Most recently, she worked at European Digital Rights as Membership and Community Officer, and is joining the new Narratives Network initiative as Community Manager. She is also a co-founder of multiple grassroots collectives in both Belgium and the UK, including most recently a queer Jewish collective in Brussels. In her spare time, she enjoys practicing the accordion, learning about herbalism, and hanging out with her cats.
Noor: To begin with, how significant do you think transnational feminist solidarity is in our world today?
FF: We strengthen each other and strengthen our analysis when engaged in a transnational feminist solidarity framework. It would really weaken the feminist cause and movement if we didn’t do it (feminist activism) across regions because that would mean that we are failing to understand how our experiences and struggles and interconnected; our struggle is not only local but also global. We’re resisting and impacted by similar exploitative and oppressive systems, wherever we’re based. We’re resisting and impacted by similar exploitative and oppressive systems, wherever we’re based. Transnational solidarity helps build better and stronger movements. For me, solidarity is a core feminist value; so, as a feminist, I must not only be occupied with what’s happening in my community but also extend support and care to others in whatever way possible, and in whichever way care and support is being sought. International feminist solidarity can really help amplify local struggles, so I think it’s essential.
Noor: How can feminist networks support grassroots feminism and feminists working at the frontlines?
FF: Firstly, and most simply, feminist networks can support grassroots feminism and feminists by visibilizing and amplifying their struggles and bringing attention to them to mobilise from other movements and networks. They can play a big role in shedding light on the struggles of grassroot feminists and making other networks and movements aware of the work that they are doing so that they can learn from them and support them. Not only this, but feminist networks can also play their part in ensuring safety of grassroots feminists and extend support if people need to access resources or to get out of a dangerous situation. They can also help fundraise for people/grassroots feminists in crisis and mobilise resources to assist them and visibilize their struggles. International organizations can learn a lot from grassroots feminist activism too and can connect these struggles from across regions, in order to exchange analysis, strategies and practice, build relationships, and learn from each other.
Noor: As someone who works with grassroot activists and collectives, how do you think we can ensure that movements like #MeToo seeps down to the grassroots and is accessible to women at the fringes?
FF: It is crucial to have conversations with people (grassroots activists/feminists) to understand what the issues are and not impose an already developed campaign onto them. The issue often is that the resources produced by international organizations are irrelevant or uninformed for people doing community organizing. Another important thing to consider is the overuse of academic language and jargon which can be very inaccessible to many. These are some small steps that could be taken by international organizations to tackle the issue of inaccessibility.
A lot of work by international NGO’s is for example done in colonial languages. So, organizations and collectives who do not use those language do not have access to those activist materials and resources that are produced in colonial languages. Even at international events sometimes, it is an issue due to lack of proper interpretation facilities, as well as a lack of access for people with disabilities. So, language justice and other access issues are a major concern that needs to be addressed and is a necessary step to ensure that global movements better reach the grassroots.
Noor: You have also done a lot of work around drug policy, do you think that these policies are problematic, disproportionately, and specifically impact and penalize women? And what would a harm reduction and decriminalization approach look like?
FF: In general, I think most drug policies (barring a few) criminalise people who use drugs rather than centering their needs and providing care and support, putting people at more risk. In terms of gender, yes, punitive drug policies do disproportionately impact women and impact them in specific gendered ways, particularly women from racialized, working class, Indigenous and other historically oppressed communities. For example, pregnant people who use drugs are heavily criminalised and instead of supporting the pregnant person, they are centred around the unborn child.
Another example of problematic policies especially when it comes to gender is that many women and gender non-conforming people who use drugs have also told us that they are unable to access support services like shelters set up by feminist organizations for domestic violence etc. These women are often overlooked by feminist activists because a) drug policy is often still not seen as a feminist issue and b) in general, people including women who use drugs face a lot of stigmas in the society and sometimes feminist movements are not too different in that aspect. There is a lack of understanding and knowledge within the feminist circuit as well when it comes to supporting and standing in solidarity with people/women who use drugs because again, it is not often perceived as a feminist issue but in actuality, it is quite an important issue to focus on.
Harm reduction and decriminalization should be centered in these conversations – meaning, policies rooted in care and empathy. Feminist movements need a better understanding why women and people, in general use drugs, including knowledge on how to better support people who use drugs and to break the stigma around drug use. Feminists can advocate for the decriminalization and harm reduction of drug use, as they understand that criminalization causes harm and gives power to the state and the prison system. As feminists, we must stand for compassion, for harm reduction and to extend support to others, not punishment. Long-term, sustainable solutions are necessary, and feminists can play their part in advocating for that.