Combating domestic violence and striving for health rights bevorderen
Being free from violence, having access to health care; these are rights which should be realised for everyone. Unfortunately, this is often not the case. All over the world especially women become subject to domestic violence, in several countries as many as 33% of all women and girls. Also, women’s rights to healthy living conditions and access to health care are frequently violated. They for instance face female genital mutilation or do not have access to reproductive health care. For this reason, Aim for human rights started projects to improve access to health care and healthy living conditions for women and to combat domestic violence. Both projects involve practical tools that help organisations to analyse women’s rights in their country. The outcome consists of concrete recommendations that they can use to lobby their government for better policies or legislation.
The tool on health rights (HeRWAI) was created in 2007. Hundreds of persons have since been trained to use it. A new tool on domestic violence is now being developed by Aim for human rights together with partner organisations.
Blog from Nepal
From the 15th to the 24th of June 2009 Aim for human rights employees Loeky Droesen and Marije Nederveen are in Kathmandu, Nepal. Violence against women is a huge problem in Nepal, as well as low level of women’s health. This is why WOREC, a Nepalese organisation and partner of Aim for human rights, is hosting international meetings on domestic violence and on the health rights tool HeRWAI.
From the 15th till the 19th of June 10 participating organisations are flying in from all over the world to engage in the further development of the domestic violence tool, which should be ready in 2010.
Then, a number of these organisations will stay and join in with others from the 22nd to the 24th of June, to form a group of 10 organisations that Loeky and Marije will train to become trainers on HeRWAI. After these days this group can train other people in their regions to make use of the tool. The goal is to strengthen the capacities of as many organisations as possible to promote health rights of women.
Monday 15 June: Why women human rights defenders should wear trousers while travelling to a young democracy
Imagine this, an Albanian woman on the back of a motorbike with a Nepali driver going up hill in Kathmandu. She’s wearing a black and white dress that is caught by the wind. She tries to push it down, but then at the same time has to cling on to the driver, otherwise she might loose her balance. Smiling already? Ok, I’ll get back to it in a minute or so. Read more
