Articles by date
November 2007
Survivors must have a say
Leading by example
International recognition
Challenging violence in the classroom
Showing solidarity
Stopping sexual bullying
September 2007
Climate for change
Dame Anita Roddick 1942-2007
August 2007
Peru earthquake
July 2007
No religious case for female genital mutilation
Egypt bans FGM
June 2007
Afghan partner lauded in The Sun
Egyptian partners call for criminalisation of FGM
April 2007
World Bank calls for gender equality
Eritrea bans Female Genital Mutilation
March 2007
Celebrating Women exhibition at Hoopers Gallery
WOMANKIND calls for UN action to implement Resolution 1325
December 2006
Nomakuze Solwande wins posthumous International Service Human Rights award
November 2006
Women in Nicaragua lose any right to abortion
September 2006
Safia Amajan, Afghanistan women's rights defender, killed
August 2006
WOMANKIND acts to protect women's rights in Afghanistan
July 2006
WOMANKIND against female genital mutilation
May 2006
Read our letter to Gordon Brown
WOMANKIND submits recommendations to DFID
WOMANKIND is sad to report the death of Nomazuke Solwande
WOMANKIND partner elected to office in Afghanistan
International Women's Day 2006
WOMANKIND launches TV and cinema ad
WOMANKIND launches series of hard hitting press ads
WOMANKIND partner appointed to Senate in Zimbabwe
November 2005
Trustee conquers coastline for WOMANKIND
August 2005
Interview with Esther Poku-Mensah
April 2005
WOMANKIND & Commission for Africa
January 2005
December 2004
October 2004
Afghan Women Need Security Safeguards Before Election
WOMANKIND Broadcasts On US Radio
Challenging violence in the classroom
The Government, schools and LEAs must do more to challenge violence against women - before negative attitudes and behaviours become entrenched.
That's the main message from WOMANKIND Worldwide's important Challenging Violence, Changing Lives recommendations, based on three years of research and workshops in UK secondary-schools.
We are working with PSHE teachers, senior staff and young people to raise awareness and transform attitudes to stop violence against women.
'It's something that you need to learn and you need to get a grasp of, especially when you're our age. I personally believe that people have got to know it anyway. Explicitly that it's wrong.'
Young man, Year 11
WOMANKIND is calling for a long-term, cultural shift in UK institutions to end this violence. Specifically: whole-school investment; prioritisation of gender equality; and a review of teacher training and support.
Read the Guardian article, which includes interviews with the WOMANKIND staff working on this programme - and with the teachers and school students who have benefited from our award-winning workshops and lesson materials.
4 December 2007
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International recognition
Najia Haneefi is the 2007 winner of the coveted International Service award for women's human rights.Najia, until recently Director of WOMANKIND partner organisation Afghanistan Women's Educational Centre in Kabul, impressed the judges with her 'great commitment' to campaigning for her countrywomen's rights.
They commented that Najia showed 'immense personal courage' to remain committed to her cause despite threats to her life. The judges were also impressed with the 'sustainable and effective' work of the Afghan Women's Educational Centre; in particular its successful combination of practical projects and political campaigning.
Najia has been campaigning for Afghan women's rights for many years. She worked to empower women throughout civil war and the Taliban regime and continues to do so today, despite the fact that her activities have provoked threats and attacks from fundamentalists.
Najia has made a real difference to Afghan women's lives - one of her most memorable achievements is successfully leading a campaign against the reintroduction of a Ministry of Vice and Virtue which, in 2006, seemed certain.
Two years running
In 2006 WOMANKIND's partner in Eastern Cape, the late Nomakuze Solwande, was posthumously awarded the Award for the Defence of the Human Rights of People Living with HIV/AIDS. Nomakuze, Director of the community-based Masonwabisane Women's Support Centre, recognised the causal link between the spread of HIV and AIDS and violence against women. Her dedicated colleagues continue to provide essential support women in the community.
07 November 2007
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Leading by example
Valentina Leskai has made history by becoming the first female Chair of an Albanian political party.
Ms Leskai, formerly president of WOMANKIND's partner organisation, the Albanian Centre for Population and Development, was elected Chair of the Socialist Party in September.
In an aggressive political climate, in which male politicians claim that women cannot cope with tough electoral campaigns, this is a tremendous achievement.
Since taking up her post, Valentina has already made waves by initiating a groundbreaking debate on political immunity.
09 October 2007
Heads of State are meeting at the UN between 22-23 September at what's billed as a crucial climate-change event.WOMANKIND and other women's organisations are sending a strong message to them that women must be on the agenda.
Women are disproportionately affected by natural disasters ? highlighted for WOMANKIND by our ongoing work with survivors of the tsunami and the recent Peru earthquake.
They are more likely to die than men, are at increased risk of violence, and often have little say in reconstruction efforts - yet this continues to be ignored by governments and many NGOs in relief and reconstruction efforts.
The Declaration on Climate Change and Gender Equality calls on governments to analyse and identify gender-specific impacts and protection measures related to floods, droughts, heatwaves, diseases, and other environmental changes and disasters.
19 September 2007
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Showing solidarity
Women across the globe are joining together for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.Stopping sexual bullying
For the last three years, WOMANKIND has led research into the prevalence of violence against young women in UK schools - and the accompanying attitudes and beliefs.At a special evening event on Thursday 29 November - held as part of the international '16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence' campaign - we will be launching the findings and recommendations, which have important implications for government, local authorities, and teachers.
The Minister for Equality, Barbara Follet MP, will be speaking, and young people from a participating school will launch a short film showing WOMANKIND's innovative work in the classroom.
Earlier that day, the same Central London venue will be hosting REFUGE's 5th Annual Domestic Violence Conference.
To find out more and to reserve your place at this Central London event, e-mail kara@womankind.org.uk or call 020 7549 0374 before Weds 21 November.
08 November 2007
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Climate for change
Heads of State are meeting at the UN between 22-23 September at what's billed as a crucial climate-change event.WOMANKIND and other women's organisations are sending a strong message to them that women must be on the agenda.
Women are disproportionately affected by natural disasters ? highlighted for WOMANKIND by our ongoing work with survivors of the tsunami and the recent Peru earthquake.
They are more likely to die than men, are at increased risk of violence, and often have little say in reconstruction efforts ? yet this continues to be ignored by governments and many NGOs in relief and reconstruction efforts.
The Declaration on Climate Change and Gender Equality calls on governments to analyse and identify gender-specific impacts and protection measures related to floods, droughts, heatwaves, diseases, and other environmental changes and disasters.
19 September 2007
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Dame Anita Roddick 1942-2007
Anita Roddick, long-time supporter of WOMANKIND, died suddenly on 10 September. Read our tribute.12 September 2007
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Peru earthquake
WOMANKIND is providing survivors of the 15 August earthquake with food, medicines and shelter. Find out more.21 August 2007
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In WOMANKIND's new report Islamic and Christian leaders demolish the myth that FGM is rooted in religious teachings.
Read our practical strategies for communities and NGOs to work with governments to eradicate FGM worldwide, forever.Return to the top of the page
WOMANKIND and Najia Haneefi, who stayed to work for women under the Taliban, are featured in The Sun. Read the article in full.
20 June 2007
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The public outrage following the tragic death of a girl undergoing female genital mutilation has led to Egypt finally closing a legal loophole.
The announcement on 29 June came hot on the heels of WOMANKIND partner ECWR's (Egyptian Centre for Women's Rights) demand for criminalisation following the death of 12-year-old Bodor Ahmed Shaker on the operating table of a private clinic.
'Female circumcision is banned by law and by all medical regulations,' the Health Minister Hatem al-Gabali said. 'Every doctor and member of the medical profession, in public or private establishments, is banned from performing the procedure.'
2 July 2007
Bodor Ahmed Shaker, a child from the village of Maghagha in Minya, has died while undergoing female genital mutilation in a private clinic.
'Although Bodor was not the first and will not be the last victim of this dangerous practice,' said WOMANKIND partners ECWR - Egyptian Centre for Women's Rights, 'decision-makers continue to ignore this violation of the rights of young women and girls, whose body parts are cut without any legal, medical or religious justification.'
ECWR is demanding that:
- Decision-makers in Egypt adopt a law that criminalises FGM
- the Doctors' Syndicate punishes doctors who commit this crime
- the Minister of Health commits to preventing FGM and closing clinics and hospitals that continue to practise it
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WOMANKIND calls for UN action to implement Resolution 1325
On International Women's Day, WOMANKIND issued an urgent call to new UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
In a letter, written with 13 other organisations working on women, peace and security issues, WOMANKIND emphasised that there can be no lasting peace without women's full participation.
We also call for the adoption of recent recommendations for a strengthened UN gender-equality architecture.
Read the letter in full (MS Word document)
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The international community cannot remain silent as Women in Nicaragua lose any right to abortion
Read WOMANKIND's joint response with One World Action and the Central America Women's Network to this alarming situation in Nicaragua (scroll down to the second letter).
Read the Guardian article 'Nicaragua votes to outlaw abortion', which prompted the above response.Return to the top of the page
