Research by international women's rights organisation Womankind Worldwide has found a shortfall in funding women's rights organisations working on the ground to end violence against women and girls. The inadequate funding causes a major barrier to ending abuse.
The funding is vital. One in three women across the world experience violence and 38% of all murdered women were killed by their partners. Womankind has released a study showing how women’s rights activists are a necessary part in ending violence against women and girls, however the lack of long-term and core funding is stopping them from having a wider impact. It’s impeding their work to tackle the issue and support women who have experienced violence.
On International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Womankind began urging international donors to move from paying lip-service to the work of women’s rights organisations in-country to urgently increasing funding so they can continue their vital work. Womankind Worldwide is the UK’s leading international women’s rights organisation. They work in partnership with women led organisations in Africa, Asia and Latin America to improve the lives and status of women and girls, by addressing injustices through local services and engagement, and using this experience to lobby for change in national and international policies and legislation.
Lee Webster, Head of Policy at Womankind, said: “Women’s rights organisations are vital in ending violence as they understand the contexts they are working in and provide solutions which are firmly rooted in local communities. Their determined activism and innovative programmes have positively changed the lives of women and girls across the world. Yet they are severely underfunded, and it is time for donors to increase funding to these organisations.”
The research also highlights that to tackle violence against women and girls, preventative work is key and that women’s rights organisations are at the forefront of delivering these types of projects.
Webster added: “Women’s rights organisations empower women and girls to claim their rights and mobilise communities to challenge discriminatory attitudes and behaviours that condone violence. But there is no quick fix to gender inequality, tackling it takes many years of working with communities.
“Despite the recent increased international focus on this issue millions of women and girls continue to experience violence. However, violence is preventable. We need international donors and national governments to prioritise tackling the underlying causes of violence and support women’s rights organisations – which have substantial expertise in this area – to carry out this long-term work.”
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