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Thursdays in Black Photo During Act Assembly

Participants at the 4th ACT Alliance General Assembly mark #ThursdaysinBlack. 

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Participants shared what the Thursdays in Black movement means to them. 

“For me, wearing black on Thursday serves as a powerful symbol of solidarity, remembrance, and reflection on our commitment to addressing historical injustices faced by our communities. It signifies mourning for those who have suffered and a call to action for change,” said Mr. Wilfer Afrete Rigamoto, Ecological Stewardship Ecumenical Enabler, Pacific Conference of Churches (Fiji). “This practice resonates with the theme for this general assembly, ‘Hope in action, together for justice,’ as it unites us in our collective struggle for equality and rights. By donning black, we express our determination to honour our past while actively working towards a more just future for all.” 

Brigita Ra Sekar Laras, project manager for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation, YAKKUM Emergency Unit (Indonesia), stated, “Every person has the right to live in a safe and equal world. We must work together and with strong hope to achieve justice through action and solidarity. Through Thursday in Black, we express our dedication, unity, and solidarity in closing spaces of violence and promoting gender justice in all aspects of our works.” 

 “Thursdays in Black hold deep meaning for me as a young woman,” said Adrianna Sosa, vice president of the World YWCA Board (Haiti). “They serve as a powerful, weekly reminder of the struggles faced by countless women, young women, and girls around the world—often in silence. Wearing black each Thursday is an act of resistance and resilience, symbolizing our collective fight and transformation for a world free of violence and oppression. This aligns with the World YWCA’s Goal 2035, which envisions a future of gender equality free of violence or war. As the YWCA movement and as the global Act Alliance, it is our duty to unite, raise awareness, and dismantle the harmful attitudes and practices that perpetuate gender-based violence. Together, we are a voice for transformation and action.” 

Thursdays in Black

Just Community of Women and Men