Women’s Rights

Across the world, women and girls’ rights are affected the most by poverty. From the moment they are born, girls face inequalities and injustice in almost every aspect of their lives.

We make sure girls go to and stay in school. We work with communities to end gender-based violence. And we train women in the skills they need to earn a living.

Our Women’s Rights Programme

ActionAid Ireland has a Women’s Rights Programme which is funded by Irish Aid and implemented in three countries, Ethiopia, Kenya and Nepal, The programme uses an innovative approach to positively change the mindsets, attitudes and subsequently the behaviours of people to ensure women & girls live their lives free of discrimination and violence.

We also work with women’s groups to strengthen the leadership and voices of women, so that they are able to set the agenda and lead change at the community, regional and national level.

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AFTER Project

In Ireland ActionAid worked with migrant women and girls and their communities to support them to reject FGM/C, through the AFTER project (Against FGM/C Through Empowerment and Rejection). The AFTER Project ran from 2016 to February 2018 with support from the Rights, Equality & Citizenship programme of the European Union.

FGM/C is the partial or full cutting of a girl’s clitoris and labia, for non-medical reasons. It is a violation of women’s human rights to life, dignity and health.

As part of the AFTER project we adapted methodologies we have used in other countries. In Kenya, for example, our programme supported by Irish Aid which used these approaches has reduced FGM/C by 27% since 2012.

The AFTER Project was implemented across five European countries (Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Spain and Sweden) by six partners.

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Safe Cities Campaign

Urban poverty and inequality is increasing sexual violence, harassment and fear in cities.

Safe Cities is a campaign which involves 20 ActionAid country organisations. The goal of the campaign is to reduce women’s experience and fear of sexual violence in urban spaces. To do this, the violence must be recognised and acted upon by decision-makers.

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Women’s Leadership in Emergencies

Women’s rights are central to ActionAid’s response in times of emergencies. Women who are pregnant or breast feeding have different nutrition requirements. Women are vulnerable to sexual assaults following major disasters. Sanitary towels are a necessity for women who have lost their homes. We don’t only work with women, but women’s needs are central to planning our response.

Nepal Earthquake 2015: Action Aid Nepal Women's Rights coordinator Malati Maskey amidst the devastation in Khokhana

REFLECT Approach

Around the world ActionAid uses the REFLECT circle method. This method empowers women and gives them basic training, including literacy. It was developed by ActionAid in the 1990s and is now used by thousands of organisations in over 70 countries around the globe. Watch our uplifting video that shows the approach in action.