Womankind Worldwide

Womankind Worldwide is a United Kingdom-based feminist global women's rights organisation founded in 1989. It works in solidarity with women's movements rather than operating as a conventional international service-delivery agency. The organisation supports local and national feminist groups with funding, technical assistance, communications, advocacy platforms, connectivity and shared learning, enabling those groups to lead change in their own political and social contexts. The organisation was launched on International Women's Day, 8 March 1989, by Sir Alec Reed. Kate Young was appointed as its executive director at the time of its establishment. Its work is built around the idea that durable improvements in women's lives are most effectively achieved by strengthening the organisations and movements led by women themselves. Womankind generally does not maintain staff or offices in the countries where it works; instead, it partners with established women's rights organisations and networks. Its programme approach has three connected dimensions: securing laws and public policies that address discrimination and protect women's rights; expanding access to appropriate, high-quality services that protect or restore those rights; and supporting wider social change capable of challenging discriminatory gender norms and stereotypes. Across these areas, the organisation has prioritised three broad outcomes: ending violence against women and girls, advancing women's economic rights and control over resources, and increasing women's influence in decision-making and political life. In the period identified in the available reference material as 2016–2017, Womankind concentrated most of its work in Ethiopia, Kenya, Nepal, Uganda and Zimbabwe, while also maintaining partnerships in Afghanistan, Bolivia, Ghana, Liberia, Peru, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Zambia. The issues addressed by partners have included gender-based violence, sexual violence, early and forced marriage, female genital mutilation, women's access to justice, economic rights, land and property rights, disability inclusion, the rights of Dalit and Indigenous women, the rights of lesbian, bisexual and transgender women, feminist education, environmental impacts on rural women, political participation and legal reform. Examples of the partnership model include support for feminist education initiatives in Ethiopia; legal advocacy and services for women in Kenya; efforts to increase the political participation of Dalit women in Nepal; research on the effects of land acquisition and resource pressures on women in Uganda; and legal services and justice advocacy for women in Zimbabwe. The organisation has also used research, public campaigning, online communications, case studies and participation in broader advocacy moments such as International Women's Day and the annual 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign. Reference material states that, over nearly three decades, Womankind and its partners had supported more than 18 million women and girls in over 70 countries. Because the available material does not provide current financial, governance or staffing information, those details are not included here. Womankind Worldwide remains an active feminist rights organisation whose distinctive position is to resource, connect and amplify locally rooted women's movements.

Womankind Worldwide was founded in the United Kingdom by Sir Alec Reed and launched on 8 March 1989, International Women's Day. Kate Young was appointed executive director at the time of its creation. From the outset, the organisation was oriented toward international women's rights and feminist movement building rather than the delivery of a single charitable service. Its operating model has centred on solidarity with existing women's movements. Rather than establishing a substantial permanent staff presence in every country, Womankind provides resources and organisational support to locally rooted partner groups. This can include grants, technical assistance, communication support, connections to other movements, opportunities for shared learning, advocacy platforms and support for research. The model gives partner organisations responsibility for defining priorities and pursuing change within their own legal, political and cultural environments. Womankind's programme framework links institutional reform, services and social attitudes. It supports efforts to change discriminatory laws and policies, improve access to services that protect and restore women's rights, and challenge gender norms and stereotypes. Its long-term aims have included ending violence against women and girls, strengthening women's economic rights and control over resources, and increasing women's participation in decision-making and political power. The organisation has worked with partners across Africa and Asia and has also maintained relationships in Latin America and other regions. In the 2016–2017 period described by the available reference material, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nepal, Uganda and Zimbabwe were designated focus countries. In Ethiopia, partner activities included work on sexual violence, disability rights, women's entrepreneurship, feminist education and safe houses. In Kenya, partners focused on legal advocacy, free legal services, women's political participation, disability inclusion, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation. In Nepal, work included support for Dalit, Indigenous and disabled women, feminist research, the rights of lesbian, bisexual and transgender women, gender-based violence prevention and political participation. In Uganda, Womankind-supported partners addressed gender-based violence, environmental issues and the concerns of rural women. Their 2018 Digging Deep report examined how the country's land rush affected women. In Zimbabwe, the organisation supported civil-society strengthening, feminist research and documentation, inclusion of lesbian, bisexual and transgender women, disability rights and access to justice. Through work with the Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association, partner services covered domestic violence, divorce, land and property disputes and child support. Additional partnerships were identified in Afghanistan, Bolivia, Ghana, Liberia, Peru, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Zambia. The organisation has also participated in public advocacy, including International Women's Day activity and the annual 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign. Its communications have included social media, blog material and case studies describing the experiences of women affected by partner programmes. Reference material reported that Womankind and its partners had supported more than 18 million women and girls in over 70 countries over nearly three decades. The available sources do not establish a complete current list of executives, a current headquarters address, present programme geography, financial position or legal ownership structure. Those fields are therefore left unreported where appropriate.

• 2019

  Thirtieth anniversary planned

  [1]Womankind Worldwideen.wikipedia.org

  Womankind planned to celebrate its thirtieth anniversary on International Women's Day.

• 2018

  Digging Deep research published

  [1]Womankind Worldwideen.wikipedia.org

  Womankind and Ugandan partners published research on the harmful effects of the country's land rush on women.

• 2017

  Partner advocacy supports Dalit women's local political participation in Nepal

  [1]Womankind Worldwideen.wikipedia.org

  Advocacy by Feminist Dalit Organization before Nepal's local elections was reported as contributing to nearly 7,000 Dalit women being elected to local government.

• 2016

  Five focus countries identified

  [1]Womankind Worldwideen.wikipedia.org

  For the 2016–2017 period, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nepal, Uganda and Zimbabwe were identified as the principal focus countries for the majority of the organisation's work.

• 1989

  Organisation founded and launched

  [1]Womankind Worldwideen.wikipedia.org

  Sir Alec Reed founded Womankind Worldwide, which launched on 8 March 1989, International Women's Day. Kate Young was appointed executive director.

A movement-strengthening feminist organisation that supports locally led women's rights groups through funding, advocacy, technical assistance, research and shared learning rather than running a large network of overseas offices.

• International development and advocacy programme · 1989

  Women's rights movement partnerships

  Womankind's core offering is a partnership model for supporting locally led women's rights organisations. Assistance can combine grants, technical advice, communications, networking, shared learning and advocacy support. Partner programmes address violence against women, discriminatory laws, access to justice, economic rights, political participation and the inclusion of marginalised groups.

• Feminist research and public advocacy · 1989

  Research and advocacy programmes

  The organisation supports feminist research, documentation and public advocacy intended to influence laws, policies and social attitudes. Examples in the reference material include research on land and environmental pressures in Uganda, advocacy for Dalit women's political representation in Nepal, and campaigns addressing gender-based violence and women's access to justice.

• 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence

  International

  Womankind participates in the annual international advocacy campaign focused on ending violence against women and girls, using communications and movement partnerships to raise awareness and support action.

  Source
• International Women's Day advocacy

  International

  International Women's Day has been significant to Womankind both symbolically and organisationally: the organisation was launched on 8 March 1989 and continues to use the occasion for public advocacy and communications.

  Source

• 2016

  Concentrated programme resources in five focus countriesStrategy

  Background

  For the 2016–2017 period, Womankind reviewed its programme geography and identified countries where it would focus the majority of its work.

  Action taken

  The organisation prioritised Ethiopia, Kenya, Nepal, Uganda and Zimbabwe while continuing partnerships in several additional countries.

  Aftermath

  The focus-country framework supported deeper work on legal reform, services, political participation, economic rights, violence prevention and movement building.

  Source

• 1989

  Adopted a locally led movement-strengthening modelStrategy

  Background

  The organisation was established to support women's movements internationally while avoiding a model based primarily on maintaining its own overseas offices and staff.

  Action taken

  Womankind structured its work around partnerships with existing women's rights organisations, providing funding, technical assistance, communications, learning and advocacy support.

  Aftermath

  This partnership and solidarity approach became the defining feature of Womankind's international programme work.

  Source

1. 1Womankind Worldwideen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Womankind Worldwide official websitewomankind.org.uk