Nikki van der Gaag reflects on her experience of the Women’s March on London; why Oxfam supported it, why it was different from past events and where we can go from here. t is not often that an ordinary citizen is part of something that they know will go down in history. But the Women’s March last Saturday was one …
This is not bad luck it is sexist violence
Damaris Ruiz, Coordinator of Women’s Rights for Latin America and the Caribbean, looks at the social acceptance of violence against women and what we can do to end it. “What bad luck I had with that man”. That’s what a teenage friend told me 25 years ago and I still think about this phrase with the same frustration. My friend …
The right to defend human rights in an unequal world: The case of Mexico
Defenders of human rights often put themselves at personal risk to carry out their work. This blog examines the vulnerabilities human rights and land rights activists face, especially female activists and defenders of land and women’s rights. t the beginning of October we read about a company lawyer in El financiero (ES), a national Mexican newspaper, who was referring to …
Make education safe for all: Let girls learn!
Oxfam’s Gender Justice Programme Coordinator in Malawi, Anthony Malunga, reflects on Malawi’s education system and on what can be done to protect girls in the classroom and support their aspirations. lobally, education remains the key investment area needed by all countries to ensure they have current and future capacity for development. In Malawi, girls’ education is affected by multiple, socio-cultural …
31 women activists murdered in 2015: You can help stop the violence
International Women Human Rights Defenders Day was November 29th, you can support women on the front line defending rights. erta Cáceres was murdered in March 2016. Berta was peacefully opposing a dam project being built in her community. For this she paid with her life. Around the world, women human rights defenders*, like Berta, are threatened, attacked and murdered for …
Making invisible voices visible in online EVAW campaigns
Online spaces are not free from violence against women and girls (VAWG) but, in this blog, Amy O’Donnell and Miranda Dobson discuss how specific online platforms, including Hollaback! are supporting EVAW (ending violence against women) work by providing spaces to report experiences of street harassment and promote solidarity. Hollaback! recently launched in Oxfam’s city of origin in Oxford – making …
Women leading in the peace
According to World Bank estimates of September 2016, two billion people live in countries where development outcomes are affected by fragility, conflict, and violence. By 2030, the share of global poor living in fragile and conflict-affected situations is projected to reach 46 per cent. Caroline Sweetman, Editor of Gender & Development, introduces us to the theme of gender in fragile …
‘We want recognition of our uniqueness’: Interview with Criola NGO in Brazil
Oxfam recently attended the 13th international AWID Forum, a unique space for women’s rights organization and feminist movements to come together. We took this opportunity to speak with the many organizations that we work with who further women’s rights and gender justice. Below is an interview between Oxfam Brazil and one of their partners, activist Jurema Werneck, who speaks on …
Moving from individual to collective change for women’s participation in Lebanon, Jordan and Kurdistan Region of Iraq
With women making up only 19% of parliament in the Middle East and North Africa region, understanding the factors preventing women from taking part in decision-making processes is vital. Here, Julie Diallo introduces a research report and summary animation that outlines key areas for change. “Thanks to the Lana project, now I can go on my own to Zarqa, but …
High Level Panel must support women’s collective action as key to realising women’s economic rights
The UN High Level Panel for Women’s Economic Empowerment is seen as an important step in gender equality. But how can it ensure it supports women effectively? Rachel Noble from Action Aid shares with us her views. he fight for gender equality and women’s rights has been playing out over centuries. The significant progress that has been made in many …