Oxfam Commemorates International Women's Day
For 95 years, people around the world have commemorated International Women's Day on March 8th.
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| Kone Sata Ballo, Mali. "We've learned our rights now. We won't wait for a man to tell us what our rights are. We are starting in the darkness, but we are fighting to take up these new roles." By: Crispin Hughes/Oxfam |
Oxfam America works on a variety of gender equity issues through our programs which include grantmaking, advocacy and campaigns.
Oxfam believes that gender equity allows full human development for all, including economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights. Gender equity enables women to achieve the same level of respect, the same opportunities to make choices, and the same level of power to shape the outcomes of these choices as men. Simply stated, women should have full decision making power over their own future.
Oxfam America envisions a world where women are actively engaged in decision that affects their communities and broader environment. To achieve this vision, Oxfam America supports efforts throughout the world on gender legal reform, women in peacebuilding, women's access to savings and credits and access to education.
In West and Southern Africa, for instance, Oxfam and its partners are bringing women into the peace-building process. Meanwhile in El Salvador and Zimbabwe Oxfam is working with partners to address domestic violence and the laws that address it. In one of our most recent campaigns, "Trading Away Your Rights" Oxfam is calling for better working conditions for women garment workers and farmers.
Oxfam's work is based on an understanding that gender equity is key to overcoming poverty and suffering.
Oxfam will be providing more information on gender equity and our work in the May issue of our Exchange magazine. If you would like a copy of the magazine or more information please email us at info@oxfamamerica.org.
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