Zanaan Wanaan (ZW) is a feminist collective based in Kashmir. “Zanaan Wanaan” are Kashmiri words for “women speak.” ZW engages in feminist activism on the ground, produces independent scholarship, supports creative work, and works towards strengthening the women’s movement in Kashmir. Its advocacy work is focused on bringing international attention to women’s human rights and the crisis in Kashmir. ZW’s action-research-based approach is rooted in its commitment to upholding principles of peace, equality, and justice. The collective also works on building transnational feminist solidarities, forging alliances, and creating cross-movement conversations.
A 2021 grant from the Cultures of Resistance Network supported Zanaan Wanaan’s Strengthening Feminist Action (SFA) program, which is a year-long project to consolidate women’s activism, advocacy, and human rights work in Kashmir. The program included a series of mentorship and training programs with a cohort of twenty to twenty-five Kashmiri women (above 18 years of age). The mentorship comprised capacity-building workshops, seminars, presentations, and trainings on UN mechanisms, which all worked to familiarize the young women with the world of feminist advocacy, both regionally and across the globe. The SFA program aims to create a strong network of Kashmiri women-led initiatives based on individual and collective action.
Website: zanaanwanaan.com
