Tarana Burke, the founder of the #MeToo movement, has announced a new initiative to expand the movement globally. The organization she leads, 'me too.' International, has launched a global network to partner with groups in 33 countries to combat sexual violence.
Simultaneously, a high-profile case involving mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs has brought attention to the ongoing issue of sexual abuse. Burke highlighted the cultural shift catalyzed by #MeToo, which has empowered victims to come forward and seek justice.
The recent lawsuit against Combs, filed under the Adult Survivors Act, is seen as a direct result of survivors organizing within the #MeToo movement. Burke emphasized the importance of laws like the lookback law in enabling survivors to seek legal recourse even after the statute of limitations has expired.
She noted that the movement has instilled a sense of trust in victims, encouraging them to speak out against powerful individuals who abuse their positions. Burke underscored that the exposure of such abuses is a significant step forward in holding perpetrators accountable.
During the Ford Foundation’s Free Future conference, Burke unveiled the Global Network initiative, aimed at uniting organizations worldwide to combat sexual and gender-based violence. The foundation has pledged an initial $1 million towards the $5 million fundraising goal.
The Global Network seeks to bring together 134 groups from various regions to collectively address sexual violence. Burke emphasized the importance of expanding the reach of #MeToo to shine a light on the work being done globally and foster collaborative action.
By uniting activists from different parts of the world, the initiative aims to build a strong community focused on taking tangible steps to combat sexual violence. Burke stressed the need for collective action and resource-sharing to drive meaningful change on a global scale.
