ActionAid International Annual Report 2006

Progress towards our strategic objectives

Women’s and Girls’ Rights

Women’s oppression is a fundamental issue of human rights and human dignity, and our work on poor women’s rights is critical to our fight against poverty and injustice.

Story of Change in Uganda:

Atim Vicky will now get an education because it’s her right.

Atim Vicky, a schoolgirl in Uganda, explains how she and her mother worked with CADOVIC, one of our partners in Uganda, to overcome abuse at school and exercise her right to an education:

"In August 2004, I was defiled by my deputy headmaster. He asked me to have sex with him, which I declined at first. He then threatened to expel me if I didn’t have sex with him; eventually I gave in because I wanted to stay in school.

Although afraid, I told my mother, who is a widow. She reported the matter to CADOVIC. The headmaster of the school reported the matter to the police, and the culprit went into hiding.

But my uncles were not willing to support my education. They wanted me married off to the culprit since his relatives were prepared to pay bride price for me.

CADOVIC intervened. They discussed the issue with my uncles, and shared the implications of the abuse. The culprit was found, appeared in court and is on remand in prison for a year when he will be charged in court. My uncles gave up the fight to get me married, fearing legal action.

Now I am in a boarding school, which my mother, her sister and a nurse are paying for. I am glad to be in school and dream of being an advocate for children’s rights."

Building coalitions for women’s rights

We work together with poor women to help them realise their equal rights.

In 2006, we were able to build strong, credible alliances with respected women’s organisations worldwide, including the Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID), the Centre for Women’s Global Leadership (CWGL) and the International Community of Women Living with HIV and AIDS (Southern Africa). This coalition will form the bedrock of effective future campaigning, locally and globally, ensuring that poor women are actively involved and legitimately represented in the struggle for their rights. The primary objective of our campaigning is to reduce the impact on women and girls of the intersecting epidemics of violence against women and HIV and AIDS.

Challenging violence against women and girls

In 2006, we analysed the impact of violence against women and girls in relation to HIV and AIDS and education. Grassroots research showed us that a large number of girls face violence in schools from their teachers and peers. This severely affects their performance and wellbeing, and causes many to drop out of school. It also showed that most big donors don’t have a clear strategy to address the connection between violence against women and girls and HIV and AIDS.

These findings are now informing our work at the grassroots level. The research has also given us greater influence to lobby the UN and other donors to provide more leadership in addressing the link between violence against women and girls and HIV and AIDS.

Violence against girls in school remains a major problem in many countries. There is a strong global movement to ensure that girls can go to school, but while they continue to experience violence in school, this right is severely compromised. A campaign against sexual abuse in education was launched in Mozambique resulting in an increase in the numbers of cases reported, and support to some survivors of violence to return to school. In Malawi, we worked with the government to ensure that violence against girls is outlawed. We also produced a model policy on violence against girls to give clear guidance on the issues for policy makers and activists worldwide.

Story of Change in Ghana:

Building self esteem means women leadership grows

Madam Ama Tabuah, 70, contested a seat in the District Assembly elections, even though months before she considered herself inferior to men and felt she could not sit or take decisions with them. She explains how this changed:

"I was asked by my church women’s leader to attend a training programme by ActionAid on human rights and violence against women. The night after the training I could not sleep. I was thinking about the information and experiences the other women had shared… it seemed as if they were talking to me. I wanted more information, so I told one of the ActionAid staff that I was interested in their programmes…"

After joining ActionAid’s leadership and decision-making training Ama felt confident to stand for the District Assembly elections. Many other women had similar experiences. After the elections, women’s representation in District Assemblies increased from 7% to 12%.

Encouraging the political participation of women

In 2006, we commissioned a review of women’s political participation, which recommended we concentrate our work locally, to build on our strong presence and trust in communities and complement the work of others. We work to build the confidence and ability of women not just to participate in political activities, but to be leaders.

Notable examples of our work in this area in 2006 include women’s rights and leadership training in Ghana and Somaliland to inspire women to stand for leadership positions. We worked with women’s groups in the run up to district assembly elections in Ghana to encourage women to stand for elections. Women’s representation increased from 7% in the previous elections to 12 % in 2006 (see Story of Change in Ghana). In Somaliland, following the training of 70 women on their rights, a woman was elected as village head for the first time ever.

Home Introduction Mission, Vision, Values Message from Chair and CE Message from Treasurer Strategic Overview Strategic Objectives Women's Rights Education Rights Food Rights Human Security HIV/AIDS Governance Other Initiatives Organisational Objectives Governance & Audit Financial Review Review Auditors' report Policies Financial Accounts Income statement Balance Sheet Cash Flow Note 1 Notes 2 & 3 Note 4 Note 4c Notes 5 & 6 Note 7 Note 8 & 9 Note 10 Note 11 Note 12 Note 13 Note 14 Note 15 Notes 16 & 17 Board-Trustees/Directors Photo Galleries Get on board 2006 South Asia Earthquake Global Action Week Video Gallery Contact Us		Progress towards our strategic objectives Women’s and Girls’ Rights Women’s oppression is a fundamental issue of human rights and human dignity, and our work on poor women’s rights is critical to our fight against poverty and injustice. Story of Change in Uganda: Atim Vicky will now get an education because it’s her right. Atim Vicky, a schoolgirl in Uganda, explains how she and her mother worked with CADOVIC, one of our partners in Uganda, to overcome abuse at school and exercise her right to an education: "In August 2004, I was defiled by my deputy headmaster. He asked me to have sex with him, which I declined at first. He then threatened to expel me if I didn’t have sex with him; eventually I gave in because I wanted to stay in school. Although afraid, I told my mother, who is a widow. She reported the matter to CADOVIC. The headmaster of the school reported the matter to the police, and the culprit went into hiding. But my uncles were not willing to support my education. They wanted me married off to the culprit since his relatives were prepared to pay bride price for me. CADOVIC intervened. They discussed the issue with my uncles, and shared the implications of the abuse. The culprit was found, appeared in court and is on remand in prison for a year when he will be charged in court. My uncles gave up the fight to get me married, fearing legal action. Now I am in a boarding school, which my mother, her sister and a nurse are paying for. I am glad to be in school and dream of being an advocate for children’s rights." Building coalitions for women’s rights We work together with poor women to help them realise their equal rights. In 2006, we were able to build strong, credible alliances with respected women’s organisations worldwide, including the Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID), the Centre for Women’s Global Leadership (CWGL) and the International Community of Women Living with HIV and AIDS (Southern Africa). This coalition will form the bedrock of effective future campaigning, locally and globally, ensuring that poor women are actively involved and legitimately represented in the struggle for their rights. The primary objective of our campaigning is to reduce the impact on women and girls of the intersecting epidemics of violence against women and HIV and AIDS. Challenging violence against women and girls In 2006, we analysed the impact of violence against women and girls in relation to HIV and AIDS and education. Grassroots research showed us that a large number of girls face violence in schools from their teachers and peers. This severely affects their performance and wellbeing, and causes many to drop out of school. It also showed that most big donors don’t have a clear strategy to address the connection between violence against women and girls and HIV and AIDS. These findings are now informing our work at the grassroots level. The research has also given us greater influence to lobby the UN and other donors to provide more leadership in addressing the link between violence against women and girls and HIV and AIDS. Violence against girls in school remains a major problem in many countries. There is a strong global movement to ensure that girls can go to school, but while they continue to experience violence in school, this right is severely compromised. A campaign against sexual abuse in education was launched in Mozambique resulting in an increase in the numbers of cases reported, and support to some survivors of violence to return to school. In Malawi, we worked with the government to ensure that violence against girls is outlawed. We also produced a model policy on violence against girls to give clear guidance on the issues for policy makers and activists worldwide. Story of Change in Ghana: Building self esteem means women leadership grows Madam Ama Tabuah, 70, contested a seat in the District Assembly elections, even though months before she considered herself inferior to men and felt she could not sit or take decisions with them. She explains how this changed: "I was asked by my church women’s leader to attend a training programme by ActionAid on human rights and violence against women. The night after the training I could not sleep. I was thinking about the information and experiences the other women had shared… it seemed as if they were talking to me. I wanted more information, so I told one of the ActionAid staff that I was interested in their programmes…" After joining ActionAid’s leadership and decision-making training Ama felt confident to stand for the District Assembly elections. Many other women had similar experiences. After the elections, women’s representation in District Assemblies increased from 7% to 12%. Encouraging the political participation of women In 2006, we commissioned a review of women’s political participation, which recommended we concentrate our work locally, to build on our strong presence and trust in communities and complement the work of others. We work to build the confidence and ability of women not just to participate in political activities, but to be leaders. Notable examples of our work in this area in 2006 include women’s rights and leadership training in Ghana and Somaliland to inspire women to stand for leadership positions. We worked with women’s groups in the run up to district assembly elections in Ghana to encourage women to stand for elections. Women’s representation increased from 7% in the previous elections to 12 % in 2006 (see Story of Change in Ghana). In Somaliland, following the training of 70 women on their rights, a woman was elected as village head for the first time ever.


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