Beti Zindabad, Aurat Zindabad!
Long Live Daughters, Long Live Women!
Help us Empower Women
Despite the strides we have made to advance women’s rights in India, statistics tell us that crimes against them are rising, and women’s participation in the workforce has reduced. We need to recognize that though we have a long history of aspiring to gender equality, and despite the robust legal framework that we have created, our dream for gender justice is still very distant.
The need of the hour is for all of us, individuals, organizations, institutions and governments, to work together to ensure that girls and women are celebrated and can enjoy rights on an equal footing with boys and men at home, in society and in the world of work.
Please help us as we work on all issues that span the life cycle of girls and women – from the foetus to infancy, adolescence and adulthood and across all spheres of life from the intimate to the public.
Your solidarity and support will help us as we strive to support women against violence, promote women’s livelihoods and rights at work and regarding property ownership.
Support Women’s Livelihoods
India has a huge untapped potential for women’s economic empowerment. Promoting women’s livelihood can reduce poverty, improve health, and lead to more inclusive societies. ActionAid Association promotes women’s livelihood by supporting their capacity building and encouraging their participation and leadership. We provide skill development and training, and promote and support their micro-enterprise from start-up towards cooperatives and other forms of collective enterprise.
Promoting Women’s Leadership
As a first step our grassroots-based initiatives promote women’s decision making and leadership roles within their communities and workplaces. This includes encouraging women to take on leadership positions within cooperatives, self-help groups and other community organizations. Your help will ensure that women can become decision-makers in all aspects of their lives.
Women’s Skill Development and Training
We implement various programs that provide women with vocational training, skill development and capacity building opportunities. These initiatives aim to enhance women’s employability and provide them with the skills needed to access decent work or build livelihood opportunities. Your help will ensure that women are provided the skills and training to become employed or start their own livelihood.
Women’s Livelihood Diversification
We support projects that encourage women to explore a diverse range of livelihood options beyond traditional roles. These involve promoting entrepreneurship, supporting women’s cooperatives, and encouraging sustainable agricultural practices. Your help will ensure that women become the custodians of their own lives and engage in rights-affirming employment opportunities.
Support Women’s Property Rights
In India, women’s property rights have been a significant concern, with longstanding disparities and discrimination in inheritance and land ownership. It is estimated that 74.8% of rural women in India are agricultural workers but only 9.3% own the land (UN Women). ActionAid Association’s initiatives encompass a multi-faceted approach that combines legal awareness, advocacy, community mobilisation and policy engagement to empower women, including those from vulnerable groups, to claim their property rights, challenge discriminatory practices and create an environment where women’s property rights are respected and upheld.
Raising Awareness
Access to legal recourse and justice can be challenging for women, particularly in rural areas. They may face barriers such as lack of legal aid and knowledge, as well as social stigma. ActionAid Association has undertaken various campaigns to raise awareness about women’s property rights, legal provisions and avenues for redressal. This education is essential for empowering women to own land. Your help will ensure that women are aware of their rights to own land and claim their rights.
Community Mobilisation
Mobilising communities and promoting discussions around gender equality and property rights can help challenge traditional norms. We have been at the forefront, implementing initiatives at the community-level to encourage greater acceptance of women’s property rights amongst the most marginalised. Your help will ensure that communities, both men and women, stand in solidarity with women’s right to land.
Support for Women from Vulnerable Groups
ActionAid Association’s initiatives provide an opportunity to address the unique challenges of vulnerable groups of women, such as widows, single mothers, and women from marginalisation communities who may face additional challenges in asserting their property rights. Your help will ensure that vulnerable women have access to property rights and their needs are addressed.
Support Women Against Violence
Gender-based violence is a manifestation of patriarchy and historically unequal power relations between men and women. According to estimates, one in three women around the world has experienced either physical or sexual violence in her lifetime (WHO, 2013). In India, 39 crimes against women are reported every hour (NCRB, 2016). ActionAid Association has been working on the issue of violence against women across its operational areas by ensuring safe spaces in communities, providing women survivors of patriarchal violence with immediate relief and rehabilitation support.
Creating Safe Spaces
We work with the community, including boys and men, to create safe schools and safe public spaces for women in their village or bastis and stop gender discrimination. We have trained many tens of thousands of men and boys on women issues. Your help will ensure communities in more villages and bastis resolve to create safe spaces.
Relief and Support to Survivors of Patriarchal Violence
We work with village and basti level groups to provide support to women survivors of violence with medical, psycho-social and legal support. Your help will ensure relief to more survivors of patriarchal violence.
Rehabilitation of Survivors of Patriarchal Violence
We work with village and basti level groups to facilitate livelihood linkage to survivors of violence and help overcome challenges to addressing gender-based violence and gender discrimination. We have enabled 9676 single women to access various social entitlements. Your help with ensure rehabilitation to more survivors of patriarchal violence.