We’re seeing gender rights trampled on the world over; from Putin’s Russia to Iran to the overturning Roe v. Wade in the United States. At age 21, I was a founding member of the Russian anti-establishment punk collective Pussy Riot. A year later, I was imprisoned for singing an anti-Putin song. Along with other Pussy Riot members, I spent almost two years in Russian labor camps, where we were subjected to horrific treatment. When we emerged, we were stronger with a larger platform and many more supporters. My life is dedicated to human rights and gender equality. Why? Because I want to make sure that girls like my 14-year-old daughter don’t feel limited by the ‘boys club’ mentality that is still prevalent in society; from Disney movies teaching girls to be passive and just wait for somebody to come and save them; to big business where so few women leaders hold top positions. Through his women’s rights work on many fronts including his advocacy work on behalf of the women of Iran; his support for Ukraine and it’s First Lady and her foundation; his platform as Board Chair of Irwin Cotler’s Raoul Wallenberg Centre For Human Rights; and his annual Rosenzweig Report on the lack of women leaders in business, Jay is an ally in our fight on several levels.
| – | Nadya Tolokonnikova, Artist, Creator of Pussy Riot, Prisoner of Conscience, & founder of Several Web3 Projects, Including UnicornDAO |