Systemic Gaslighting Obscures Genocide: World YWCA Calls for Urgent Accountability
October 3, 2025
Systemic gaslighting*. That is what has been happening in Gaza and continues unabated.
Non-combatants, human rights defenders, and humanitarian aid workers continue to be targeted, obstructed, and silenced. And, doxed, harassed, and violated across cyber boundaries.
These direct violations of all international norms and protections, intended to uphold established global norms and safeguard those helping others in need.
The gaslighting comes as a denial of genocidal behaviour and decisions. The gas lighting comes as the objectification of a whole people, and a narrative that starvation and involuntary death is a natural human condition. The gaslighting comes as strident propaganda from a podium, given voice across markets of communication.
This is gaslighting by power structures.
Wars – most often created by a small number of people that hold power – create humanitarian crises, lead to displacement and impoverishment of millions of people, and birth to generational.
For almost 200 years and today, World YWCA recognises human suffering as antithetical to human rights. World YWCA recognises human suffering as unconscionable and avoidable.
“Every obstruction, every attack, every threat against those bringing aid and bearing witness is a crime under international humanitarian law and must be held accountable. To normalise such actions is a gaslighting of the human community.”
– Casey Harden, CEO/GS World YWCA
World YWCA calls for urgent action and norm reversal, to make the protection of the lives and efforts of non-combatants, human rights defenders, and activists for peace and justice – Sacrosanct.
Since 2023, World YWCA has been calling attacks on Gaza what it is – an act of Genocide. We reinforce:
- Ceasefire NOW
- Humanitarian corridors to be opened and be safe for all
- Diplomatic and legal pressure to prevent further atrocities
Read previous statements and watch videos:
- Watch World YWCA’s BulletAndDove Panels on Gaza, 2025
- World YWCA- YWCA of Palestine Statement on International Day of Solidarity with Palestinian People, November 2024
- World YWCA Action Alert Regarding the Escalation in the Middle East (October 3, 2024)
- The YWCA Lebanon and World YWCA Statement on the Attacks on the People of Lebanon (September 27, 2024)
- World YWCA – YWCA Palestine: Statement on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (November 29, 2023)
- World YWCA Statement on the Genocide in Gaza and the Implications on Women and Children (November 15, 2023)
- World YWCA Statement on Israel-Hamas War (November 13, 2023)
*Systemic gaslighting: It is the systemic attempt to make the global community doubt its own moral compass and perception of reality, while grave human rights violations continue in plain sight.