By Nora Dooley | Project Leader
The conversation about girls’ and women’s rights resonates around the world. Laws exist that aim to protect and serve all people. But the reality is that no country has full equality across genders, and in too many countries gender discrimination is legal or harmful traditions prevent girls from making their own choices. With our International Women’s Day (IWD) resources and the greater ASK for Choice movement CAC provides opportunities for personal and community involvement in initiatives that challenge the status quo, and engage in sustainable efforts to reach the Targets of Global Goal 5: Gender Equality.
CAC impact is deeply intertwined with the efforts of our partners; the content in this report is, therefore, a compilation of perspectives from our global network of community organizations. As Process Consultants, working with a vast variety of partners, our work as well as our M&E must be collaborative.
CAC’s 2017 International Women’s Day resource packet incorporated two main elements: the ASK for Choice curriculum and a framework for designing, developing, and implementing a localized women’s rights policy. These resources were shared with over 1,000 organizations in 100+ countries to take collective action towards Global Goal 5. This document presents just some of the feedback CAC received from community leaders who utilized the games and the policy pathway.
Community coaches and leaders, Aravind and Rajesh, from our partner Parikrma Foundation in India:
"First thank you for giving an opportunity to participate in such an important event. It was great attending your workshop. We learned a lot. Thank you for bringing the helping nature out of us. Women’s freedom is still not given to them until these are true:
1) Women and girls have equal rights in our community
2) Women and girls do not feel shy to come forward to do things and ask for their choice
3) Women and girls are free to dress as they want in the society
4) Women should be given equal opportunities not only in education but in all places and situations
5) Women harassment should be stopped
6) Women can walk free in the streets at midnight"
The ASK for Choice and IWD curricular and policy development resources contribute to the increase in Knowledge about girls’ and women’s rights, health – including reproductive, nutrition, drugs and alcohol, and HIV –, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, technology and broad educational faculties. In addition to sharing knowledge of existing policies contributing to gender equity and inequity around the world, CAC partners have access to information and tools that approach the following Global Goal 5 Targets:
Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences
Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women
“The CAC IWD resources have been helping the youths and children of the community, every week ayouth mentorgoes to his/her community and runs the training using the CAC curriculum, that way the community isbeing aware and informed about different issues on women’s and girl’s rights and protection. Our commitments are playing the IWD games with girls and women (teachers) and discussing with boys and men regarding the rights of women andbreaking gender stereotypes.” - Prateek, Childreach Nepal
“I took the time to interview women and girls in my community to find out if they knew about International Women's Day, and to my surprise, they were not aware. I had a chance to share CAC/ASK games with the teachers and the importance of using sports tospread the message.” –David Mulo, Green Kenya
“Our event gathered local people who lead others and organized a debateon what can be done to respect women and girls rights. Mostly discussed how to reduce gun, sexual, and gender-based violence. It was a great success because young people, grassroots leaders, agreed to be on the frontline to fight gender-based violence. It was the time to ask local authorities to go out of their shells and become the center of women's rights and respect. Thanks a lot for your help.” – Alphonsine, Refeades-Makobola, Democratic Republic of Congo
***See remaining content of CAC 2017 IWD report in attached PDF Document.
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