Empowering Women

Empowering Women

Rights and Humanity has been concerned with the empowerment of women since its establishment in 1986. Securing the realisation of women’s rights on a basis of equality with men is both a moral imperative and an essential pre-requisite for sustainable development.


Our community programmes piloted in Nigeria and Jordan have had a particular focus on women’s empowerment. In late 1995, Rights and Humanity undertook research in Jordan and made recommendations for priority funding. We were commissioned to undertake this work by the UK Government’s Overseas Development Administration (ODA - now renamed the Department for International Development, DFID).

ODA adopted many of the priorities we identified and provided funding for projects that facilitated women’s rights and empowerment. These have led to long term benefits, for instance:

  • Support for women suffering domestic violence, including training for the police and the establishment of a special unit to handle domestic violence complaints
  • Projects to facilitate the rights of women and girls with disabilities.
                                                                                                                                          

In July 1997, Rights and Humanity provided training to DFID on mainstreaming gender and women’s rights throughout DFID’s worldwide programme.

Supporting Other Initiatives for the Empowerment of Women
Throughout its history, Rights and Humanity has supported other initiatives particularly those which have a priority on women. For example:

  • In 2004, we participated in fora on the rights of women in the Arab world, including the Arab International Women’s Forum and a meeting hosted by Baroness Uddin at the House of Lords for a visiting delegation of senior Kuwaiti women.
  • In 2005, we supported the establishment of the International Community of Women with HIV/AIDS, through our President’s role on the Steering Committee.
  • in June 2005, our President spoke at ‘A Woman’s Way’, a conference held by the Brahma Kumaris in London, UK. This conference brought women together to share and celebrate their feminine qualities and their achievements.

See also

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