Protest against Gerson Rodrigues: activists demand an apology!

Protest against Gerson Rodrigues: activists demand an apology!

On Friday, June 10, 2025, a spontaneous protest took place in Luxembourg, initiated by the organization GID Fraen an Gender. Cloé Thoma, one of the activists, led the group, which joined forces with many other supporters to draw attention to grievances. Thoma explained that the group is cautiously optimistic about a public apology from the FLF football association and hopes that it will not be seen as simply an attempt to ease public pressure.

During the protest, Thoma wore an Irish rugby jersey and participants emphasized that they were not trying to illegally gain entry to the stadium or anything similar, but were simply bringing their banner into the stadium. This peaceful intent underscores the activists' commitment to effecting change in their community.

Support for women's rights

In a global context, strengthening women's rights is a central issue that affects many activists. Historically, women have fought for their rights and support each other. Equal rights for women can not only improve social structures, but also contribute to the fight against poverty. These claims are supported by numerous activists around the world who dedicate their livelihoods and time to empowering other women.

Examples of such notable women include Jasvinder Sanghera, who has been campaigning against forced marriage and abusive practices for almost 30 years. Her commitment led to the founding of Karma Nirvana, an organization supporting victims of forced marriage abuse. Equally active is Polly Irungu, who launched a database for black and non-binary photographers to give them more visibility and access to opportunities.

Global activists and their contributions

The list of inspiring women continues with Sabuni Francoise Chikunda, a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo in Uganda who founded the Kabanza Women’s Center to train refugee women. As an ambassador for Amref Health Africa, Nice Nailantei Leng’ete addresses the human rights of African girls and campaigns against child marriage and genital mutilation practices.

• Suhani Jalota: Gründerin von Myna Mahila, produziert kostengünstige Hygieneartikel für einkommensschwache Frauen.
• Zainab Salbi: Unterstützt Frauen in Kriegsgebieten durch Qualifizierungsmaßnahmen und Ressourcen über die Organisation Women for Women.
• Kakenya Ntaiya: Setzt sich in Kenia für die Bildung von Mädchen ein und bekämpft schädliche Praktiken.
• Dr. Leyla Hussein: Gründerin des Dahlia Project zur Unterstützung von Überlebenden von Genitalverstümmelungen.
• Candice Chirwa: Ministerin für Menstruation in Südafrika, die sich für Menstruationsgesundheitsmanagement einsetzt.

The current protests in Luxembourg and the global support for women's rights clearly show that the voice of women is strong and determined. Both locally and internationally, activists advocate for equality and justice and work to create a better future for all by opposing oppression and injustice.