Resource center

Organisation website:
Founded in 1962, Catalyst is the leading nonprofit membership organization expanding opportunities for women and business.
With offices in the United States, Canada, and Europe, we count as members more than 400 companies, firms, business schools, and associations from around the world, employing millions of women. Our global lens and regional reach allow us to provide our members, the media, and the public with information and counsel on creating workplaces that enable women and their employers to succeed.
Catalyst's work is rooted in our research. We study women and men across levels, functions, and geographies to learn about women's experiences in business, barriers to their career advancement, and individual and organizational strategies leading to success. We are culturally sensitive. Our reports, often cited in international media, reveal the challenges and opportunities for organizations and women at work globally. We have an extensive compendium of diversity and inclusion practices that provides models for change.

Webpage portal:
The goal of this website is to provide development practitioners with a platform to come together, share knowledge and resources and contribute to the development and empowerment of communities worldwide.

The Arab Academic Human Rights Network (AAHRN) aims to strengthen the capacity of academic institutions to perform academic education and research on human rights. The Network was launched in April 2010 when a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between five founding members:
The stated mission of the AAHRN is to strengthen the capacity of academic institutions in formulating and disseminating knowledge on human rights topics responding to the reality and needs of society, with the main objectives to:
Strengthen the institutional capacity of academic institutions to plan, design, organise and implement teaching and research in human rights
Encourage exchange and dialogue between academic institutions
Strengthen the resource base of human rights materials in Arabic

Women are the victims of violence and backward religious traditions in Iraq, and are in desperate need of shelter and protection from random acts of aggression. These women are subject to continuous threat of being:

killed by their husbands or male relatives (honor killings)
Burnt or mutilated for suspicion of shameful acts
publicly executed or shot by the police
kidnapped and secretly murdered
in state of despair and see no other way than to commit suicide

Consequently, millions of women undergo sexual discrimination encouraged by Islamist activists and Saddam's regime that urge all “God Loving” men to oppress their women so as to abide by an Islamic submissive lifestyle that was created hundreds of years ago. This situation has been introduced and enhanced in the last decade, and does not allow women basic standards of human dignity. Other Reasons that result in the deterioration of social status of women in Iraq:

Hundreds of thousands of women were widowed by consecutive wars, and genocide executed by Saddam's army
Economic sanctions spread out poverty to unthinkable extents where every widow finds herself responsible of a family with no sort of support or social insurance
Recent years changes in civil laws so as to allow honor killings and referral to backward and barbaric tribal law
Absence of supremacy of law, allowing Islamist misogynist practices which the ruling Baath party chose to apply by committing mass killings on women.

Local Women's Movements

Independent Women's organization (IWO) was formed on 8th of March 1992 in North of Iraq with the efforts of volunteering individuals. Since then, women sheltering services began to be provided. These include armed protection, safe dwelling and legal services.

IWO has proved to be the only organization to fully adopt a comprehensive campaign of advocating Iraqi women's rights and for that had gained the support of local radical movements. IWO has extended its influence to international locations that attracted masses of Iraqi refugees. It is represented now in Canada, England and Australia. Our committee (DIWR) in Canada was founded on May 20, 1998 and has pursued

Investigating into the status of Iraqi women with a focus on Kurdistan of Iraq where the absence of supremacy of law resulted in giving way to ancient tribal practices against women encouraged by recent Islamist influences.

The need for these services?

In order to gain a broad perspective of the local scene, and a sense of the urgency to activate change towards the women's cause in Iraqi Kurdistan, we refer to one recent statistical figure done in North of Iraq - Kurdistan

- That could explain it all:

Within a population of 5 Million in Iraqi Kurdistan

4000 honor killings (1990-1999)

Hundreds of burnt women

Tens of honor driven mutilations against women

Thousands of circumcised (genitally mutilated) girls yearly till this present day

What your support can do?

Strengthen international solidarity for the support of women's movement in Iraq in their struggle against Islamist influenced male violence.

Provide the women's shelter with financial support necessary for the survival of desperate women.

Boost Women's aspirations in gaining freedom and equality with their fellow men.

We seek the support and cooperation of all organizations that are involved in developing women's status worldwide. For any inquiries, do not hesitate to contact us on the addresses written below. yanar2002@hotmail.com

The Center for Women's Global Leadership (CWGL), based at the School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University, envisions a world in which all people are equal and gender equality is systemically realized by the achievement of human rights for all. CWGL strengthens and facilitates women's leadership for human rights and social justice worldwide.

Organisation website:
Founded in 1991 NEWW is an international communication and resource network supporting dialogue, informational exchange, and activism among those concerned about the status of women in Central and Eastern Europe, the Newly Independent States, and the Russian Federation. NEWW coordinates research and advocacy that supports women's equality and full participation in all aspects of public and private life.
NEWW is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. With members in more than 30 countries NEWW is among the largest and most respected networks in CEE/NIS, and is a trusted source of expertise, resources and information about gender in democratizing societies.
NEWW connects women's advocates in who work in partnership to promote women's rights and to strengthen women's role within civil society. NEWW members represent all strata of society – human rights activists, writers, students, journalists, lawyers, parliamentarians, professors, artists, union organizers, health care workers and feminist activists.
NEWW's overarching goal is to support the formation of independent women's movements and to strengthen the capacities of women and women's NGOs to influence policy regarding women's lives.

BWF's mission is to strengthen the role of businesswomen as leaders in the Palestinian economy through advocacy, networking, and the provision of business services.

Project webpage:
On March 8th, 2012, the Women's Information Network (WIN) will present fabulous LIVE celebrations in 176 counties!
Women worldwide will connect to celebrate and honor women past, present, and future, in many exciting ways. Amazing women celebrities, athletes, political leaders, and experts will speak about women's issues today. There will be live musical entertainment and much more!
On this day women will “Celebrate, Commit, and Connect.” They'll celebrate like never before ~ connect as only women do ~ and commit to improve in 3 areas of their lives:
Personal ~ improve their personal health and well being, and their businesses as employees, business owners, entrepreneurs.
Family ~ help their families be healthier and prepare for the future right now.
Country ~ let their voices be heard: to speak up, to make positive changes in their communities/countries.

"Act for Lebanon" was born from the individual initiatives of Lebanese who believe in acting for a better Lebanon is more constructive than just talking about its better future.

The members of Act for Lebanon share core values that drive their actions from bottom to top; action on the grassroots level to influence decision-makers.

Organisation website:
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research. Since 1881, AAUW has been one of the nation's leading voices promoting education and equity for women and girls. AAUW has a nationwide network of more than 100,000 members and donors, 1,000 branches, and 500 college/university institutional partners. Since AAUW's founding 129 years ago, members have examined and taken positions on the fundamental issues of the day — educational, social, economic, and political. AAUW's commitment to educational equity is reflected in our public policy advocacy, community programs, leadership development, conventions and conferences, national partnerships, and international connections.