The Foundation - Civil and political rights - - Euro-Mediterranean region

16 associations work in pairs to influence women’s policies

20.06.2017 / Created by (EMWF)
16 associations work in pairs to influence women’s policies

Sixteen associations from the Southern Mediterranean and the EU are involved in learning exchanges to share ideas on their strategies to defend women’s rights and approach policy-makers. Eight of them are developing advocacy campaigns on different issues (enhancing women’s engagement in politics, preventing child marriage, etc.). For this reason, eight tandems have been set up between the eight associations which carry out their campaigns and the eight associations which have a strong experience in the campaigns’ fields.

In the last months, all the associations’ representatives have had the opportunity to spend time together through a field visit. The aim of this field visit is to analyse the advocacy campaign’s progress, provide advice and ideas for increasing the campaign’s impact (for instance, how to convince key actors to join the campaign) and become acquainted with their peer association’s context and organization.

Here are some insights into the field visits:

  • In January, 7 members of Start initiative for social justice and human rights -SICJHR’s team (Egypt) participated in a training at ECWR’s premises in order to learn from Egyptian Center for Women’s Rights - ECWR (Egypt)’s experience when they implemented the “Safe Streets for All” campaign. Additionally, a meeting with SICJHR’s volunteers was held in Zaqaziq in February in order to analyse the challenges linked to the campaign’s execution. 
  • In March, the Association de l’information et de la communication en milieu de jeunes de Guelma - INFO-COM’s representative (Algeria) realised a field visit in Beirut to meet MARCH Association (Lebanon). The field visit focused on MARCH’s experience in the field of social development and human rights’ advocacy through art and culture. INFO-COM took part in MARCH’s activities and developed its skills in communication and social networks. MARCH learnt from INFO-COM’s work with youth to raise social awareness on women’s rights in Guelma. You can find more information in the attachment below.
  • In April, the Association Voix de femmes marocaines – AVFM (Morocco)’s representative travelled to Sfax to meet Mouwatinet (Tunisia). AVFM was introduced to her host and learnt about the campaign’s advancements for the political participation of women in local governance. In this occasion, AVFM animated a training in communication and leadership to future women candidates to the local elections.
  • In May, Hiwar Center for youth and women’s empowerment (Palestine)’s representative realised a visit to the Center of Women’s Studies and Policies - CWSP (Bulgaria). Hiwar presented its campaign on increasing women’s representativeness in the local councils. CWSP arranged meetings with NGOs working on women issues and several female policy-makers and political figures from different political parties (at local and Parliament levels). Click here to see a video on the field visit (in English and Bulgarian).

The learning exchanges happen within the framework of the CSO WINS project: “Capacity-building in the Southern Mediterranean to Open policy dialogue and monitoring for Women in Society". It is financed by the European Union and co-financed by the European Institute of the Mediterranean, coordinator of the project, in synergy with the Foundation’s action.

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