Women's Rights
A group of Cambodian women participated in making decision about their livelihood needs.
Photo: savann Ouerm/ ActionAid
70% of people living in poverty are women. Women around the world are more likely to live in poverty - just because they are women.
Men still dominate decision-making at every level, from village councils to national governments, so even when policies are introduced to help the poor, they often ignore the needs of women.
Despite these injustices, women everywhere have made great strides in advancing women's righs. But we have also witnessed increasing harassment, backlash, and violence towards women seeking change.
Women are powerful forces for change, amazingly determined and resourceful in their fight to achieve a better future. Income in the hands of women has a dramatic impact on the wellbeing of their families, since they spend a significant proportion of it on children’s food, health and education.
Every time a family has good food to eat and clean water to drink, every day that a child arrives at school or a sick person makes it to the clinic, it’s usually a woman who has fought for this small, daily victory over adversity.
The best way to end poverty is to strengthen women in their own struggles, helping them to unleash their own potential to change the world.
ActionAid and women's rights
ActionAid defends the rights of women and girls to live free from gender-based violence, have dignity in the face of HIV and AIDS, control their sexuality, and enjoy economic empowerment.
Our three focus areas are
- Violence against women and girls in public and private spaces
- Economic alternatives for women - including the recognition, redistribution, and reduction of women's unpaid care work, and supporting the development women-only cooperatives and collectives
- Sexual and reproductive health and rights
By 2018, 8,000 women in urban areas and 70% of women in rural communities where we work are organised and challenge gender-based violence and gender inequality in all aspects of their lives.
Gender inequality means Cambodian women have less access to land, education, networks, technology, transport, cash and decision-making than men. They face threats of violence, sexual assault and rape - with those living in rural areas particularly vulnerable to a host of problems.
Promise 1: By 2018 we will have helped to make women’s rights a mainstream issue, supporting women and girls in influencing those responsible for enabling them to exercise their rights in both public and private spheres.
Promise 2: By 2018 we will have supported coalitions and networks against violence in urban public spaces in demanding women-friendly infrastructure facilities and governance systems.