#INTERNATIONALWOMENSDAY
A challenged world is an alert world and from challenge comes change. So let's all choose to challenge.
How will you help forge a gender equal world?
It’s time to celebrate women's achievement. Challenge gender stereotypes. Raise awareness against bias. Celebrating women's achievements and increasing visibility, while calling out inequality, is key. Take action for equality.
There are so many women we would like to celebrate and in coming together we are changing the world of bias one step at a time. There is also much work to be done and we would like to shine a light this International Women’s Day on those organisations and charities that are forging a beacon for women all over the world! Get involved - without action there is no change. Backing organisations that work hard to support women around the world – whether that means challenging policy, becoming an activist for change, funding education for girls in developing countries, advocating for survivors of domestic abuse, connecting women with professional mentors, or other amazing projects.
YOUNG WOMEN’S TRUST
Young Women's Trust is a feminist organisation working to achieve economic justice for young women. Their Work It Out coaching service supports young women to make plans for the future. They campaign for young women’s equality in the workplace and research what young women’s lives are really like today.
If you’re interested in supporting women under 30 in the UK, who are struggling to survive with a low income, this trust specialises in giving those battling poverty and unemployment the tools to succeed. The charity understands that when someone is in a vulnerable place, emotional and mental support is just as important as practical skills. This is why they also offer life coaching, to prepare young women for job interviews by boosting their confidence and helping them to recognise their best skills and stay motivated.
Now that is really something I could have done with being thrown into the workplace as a young women. We must take back our power, stop judging young, powerful women and celebrate our achievements more than our failings. Becareful with the language we use around our young women.
THE FAWCETT SOCIETY
The Fawcett Society is very special. Established in 1866 by Millicent Fawcett, this pioneering women’s organisation has been advancing women’s equality ever since the young suffragist set out to collect signatures supporting votes for women at just 19 years old. This groundwork went on to support the campaign that eventually secured the vote for most women in 1918. Campaigning for gender equality and women’s rights at work, at home and in public life. Their vision is a society in which women and girls in all their diversity are equal and truly free to fulfill their potential creating a stronger, happier, better future for us all.
The UK’s leading membership charity, they are fighting for equal pay. Securing equal power, just 34% of MPs and 35% of councillors are women. They’re campaigning to get more women in all our diversity into politics at every level. Changing attitudes and minds, working to tackle gender stereotypes that hold back our children and campaiging for COVID-19 support to ensure that women are not left behind or their needs ignored during the crisis.
IMKAAN
Imkaan is a UK-based, Black feminist organisation. We are the only national second-tier women’s organisation dedicated to addressing violence against Black and minoritised women and girls i.e. women and girls which are defined in policy terms as Black and ‘Minority Ethnic’ (BME).
The organisation holds nearly two decades of experience of working around issues such as domestic violence, forced marriage and ‘honour-based’ violence. We work at local, national and international level, and in partnership with a range of organisations, to improve policy and practice responses to Black and minoritised women and girls.
Their research activities support the ongoing development of a robust evidence base around the needs and aspirations of Black and minoritised women and girls, as well as promising practice approaches to addressing violence. Imkaan is at the forefront of programmes and initiatives relating to forms of violence that disproportionately affect Black and minoritised women and girls.
WOMEN FOR WOMEN INTERNATIONAL
A world that does not respect women’s power does not respect women. But when we seize our power, we reclaim our rights, protect and liberate one another, and end injustice. Stand up, speak out, and support women.
Women for Women International was founded during the Bosnian war in 1993 and has reached over 500,000 marginalised women in 8 conflict-affected countries. During 1992-1995, an estimated 50,000 Bosnian women were subjected to rape as a weapon of war. Thousands more witnessed the killing of loved ones and destruction of their homes, and were left struggling to provide and care for their families whilst dealing with severe trauma.
Survivors said that they felt invisible, that the world had forgotten about them, that no-one cared.
After hearing these women’s stories, Zainab Salbi, an Iraqi-American humanitarian, entrepreneur and author, founded Women for Women International at the age of 23.
Women for Women International created ‘sister-to-sister’ connections between isolated women in Bosnia and individual ‘sponsor sisters’ around the world. A letter exchange provided these Bosnian women with solidarity and emotional support, along with small amounts of financial aid to help them meet their basic needs as they began to rebuild their lives. To this day, their approach remains inspired by this spirit of sisterhood, and the combination of social and economic investment. We feel very connected to this charity, it’s beautiful story and world connection help us feel like we are making a difference to someone’s life.
WOMEN’S AID
WORKING TOGETHER AGAINST DOMESTIC ABUSE
UNTIL WOMEN AND CHILDREN ARE SAFE
Women’s Aid is a grassroots federation working together to provide life-saving services in England and build a future where domestic abuse is not tolerated. For many women, when they first disclose they are experiencing domestic abuse no one listens to them. No one consults them about how to stop the abuse, despite the fact that nobody knows the abuser better than they do. Not surprisingly, many women struggle to escape the abuse permanently, build their independence, and get their lives back.
Change That Lasts is an approach that places the survivor at the heart and builds responses around her needs and the strengths and resources available to her. Alongside their women for women in domestic abuse, they are leading the Save Refuges - Save Lives campaign. Their world-leading network of specialist refuges is at risk when still two women a week, on average, are killed in England and Wales by a partner or former partner. Women’s Aid is leading the SOS Campaign to secure a long term funding solution for life-saving services.
Anyone who has been around domestic abuse knows these services are life-saving, they are definately part of the conversation about how we as a society can work together to create the foundations of respect with our children also at the heart of our story.
There are so many others to celebrate, who do amazing work for womens equality and service. We have listed some further below - if you have ANY you would love to highlight - comment below - we look forward to working together to #choosetochallenge - these services are here to help you - if you are in need, reach out, be brave and take the first steps to getting help.
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We believe all women should have access to sanitary protection during their period. But many are experiencing period poverty, unable to access or afford them. That’s why we're working towards our goal to eliminate period poverty in Britain's most deprived communities by 2025.
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We campaign to eliminate ‘honour’-based abuse and harmful practices and provide life-saving services to those at risk, regardless of age, culture, sexuality or gender.
Established in 2010, we are a leading charity tackling culturally-specific abuse in the UK, including forced marriage and female genital mutilation. We advocate for those who need a voice and offer a completely confidential and non-judgemental service.
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They empower refugee and asylum-seeking women to speak out, become leaders and advocate for change. Through English lessons, drama and other activities they support women to build their confidence and skills. Their network helps to combat the isolation faced by women seeking asylum and creates pathways for women to rebuild their lives with dignity.
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They empower women and girls to fulfil their potential – because when one woman is helped out of poverty, she brings her family and community with her. Working in 104 countries around the world, saving lives in emergencies and finding long-term solutions to poverty for millions of people every year.
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A society where Muslim women can have an effective voice and the opportunity to exercise their rights to contribute equally. Muslim Women's Network UK (MWNUK) is the only national Muslim women's organisation in Britain. Their services include helplines, counselling, advocacy and campaigns.
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Wish is the only national, user-led charity working with women with mental health needs in prison, hospital and the community. They provide independent advocacy, emotional support and practical guidance at all stages of a woman’s journey through the mental health and criminal justice systems. Wish acts to increase women’s participation in the services they receive, and campaigns to get their voice heard at a policy level and is the only national mental health charity just for women.
#ChooseToChallenge
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