by Mary Adams, AWC The Hague
Since its founding, the International Women’s Writing Guild (IWWG) has championed the power of women’s voices, ensuring they are heard, celebrated and shared. In 2025, its anthology efforts align with the 69th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. This event is a call to action, reminding us of the power of storytelling to illuminate the 12 critical areas of concern outlined in the Beijing Platform for Action – from education and health to climate justice and human rights. The 2025 IWWG Anthology, supported by The de Groot Foundation, brings together voices from around the world to reflect on these themes.
Women from FAWCO took the opportunity to share stories with IWWG that touched on 11 of the critical concerns: Human Rights, Education and Training, Poverty, Economy, Health, Power and Decision-Making, Institutional Mechanisms, Environment, Violence Against Women, Media and the Girl Child. The Human Rights Team is proud to publish these works and interviews with the six authors in the coming months.
In the sixth and final instalment of our series, we feature the poem “We Must Gather Our Voices” by Mary Adams. It is a metaphorical poem that emphasizes the power of collective voices emerging from grassroots movements voices calling for equality, advocacy, and community.
We Must Gather Our Voices
Here in the grassroots
we dig our toes into the mud as
we plant our seeds and
watch empowerment grow.
At harvest time
we gather our voices
and fling them into the sky.
We winnow our harvest into
messages of equality
advocacy and community.
Our voices transcend into
a murmuration of emancipation
made up of thousands of words
that swoop and dive in synchronicity.
Here in the grassroots
we dig our toes into the mud and
we watch the sky
because we know
our voices return to earth as rain
that will nourish and enrich
our next harvest.
Interview with the Author
I have written poetry since I was15 years old. Throughout the years, it became a type of journaling that enabled me to explore emotions, discover words, and find the rhythm in my own life. With Write Forward, IWWG gave me an opportunity to expand my vision to human rights and express myself in new ways.
Why did you choose to participate in the IWWG anthology reflecting on Beijing Platform for Action progress?
I felt that IWWG offered me a unique opportunity to promote the 12 critical concerns of the Beijing Platform. The timing with CSW69 and International Women’s Day had the power to transform our words into collective voices of advocacy.
How do your personal experiences influence the way you approach human rights topics in your writing?
At the conclusion of the 2013–2016 FAWCO Target Project for Free the Girls, I recognised that being "rescued" from human trafficking is not a guarantee of freedom. The FAWCO/FAWCO Foundation Stand Up Against Human Trafficking Symposium in 2016 convinced me that everyone can do something. I learned how civil and public sector organizations were partnering for victim-focused care and how the business sector CSR programs can make a difference. It made me realize that I could use research to inspire my poetry writing.
Can you describe how your background – whether cultural, academic, or professional – shapes your views on human rights for women?
My 25-year career in management consulting provided me with a broad set of communications skills – from training and change management to team building and coaching to documentation management to marketing and trade shows. When I left consulting, I was determined to use my skills in a new way. I credit FAWCO with helping me find a path to human rights. After the end of the Target project, I was determined to become a change agent. I was the founder and Director of Sustainable Rescue Foundation from 2017–2023. My foundation focused on human trafficking. During my tenure, I realized the difficulty for governments to achieve measurable results, resilience and sustainability. Volunteering as a convenor for CSW NGO Geneva in 2024 made me realize the power of women’s organizations to collaborate and create spaces for change.
What role do you think storytelling plays in human rights advocacy and creating social change?
I find that the global reporting services’ focus on statistics, averages and despair makes people feel that issues in human rights for women are so big and complicated that any effort they make as an individual is useless. Storytelling is an oral tradition that has connected people since the dawn of time. I think that our brains are wired to remember stories better than facts and data. Stories build a sense of community. They bring people together through shared experiences or perspectives. Abstract concepts become easier to understand and more impactful when woven into a narrative. Through storytelling, public engagement and strategic advocacy, writers can help shift cultural attitudes, promote positive change and empower women to take control of their lives and futures.
How do you see the role of authors evolving in the human rights movement, especially with the rise of digital media and social platforms?
The role of authors in advancing women’s rights is to amplify voices, challenge oppressive systems and provoke meaningful change through the power of words. Whether through personal narratives, fictional characters or global advocacy, authors serve as catalysts for social transformation, helping women’s issues gain the attention and urgency they deserve. Social media platforms enable authors to connect directly with readers, activists and organizations, creating a global space for dialogue and advocacy.
What impact do you hope your work will have on public awareness or attitudes toward human rights for women?
By participating in writing projects aimed at human rights for women, I hope that my writing will become a part of a collective voice in driving social progress forward against the current gender backlash.
Looking ahead, what are some human rights issues or themes you would like to explore more in your future works?
I remain very interested in all facets of violence against women and the intersectionality with the other 11 critical concerns.
