More Paths to Security
Here are some of the other programs Oxfam is working on that are helping to transform the lives of women and their families.
Rights for Women in Mozambique and El Salvador
Goal: $4 million
In a number of developing countries, Oxfam is playing a key role in helping to implement new laws that protect women’s rights. In Mozambique, for instance, we trained women’s groups in advocacy and community organizing and helped to draft a new family law. Here’s what the law, enacted in 2005, has done for women:
- Raised the minimum marrying age for girls to 18—up from 14
- Allowed women to engage in business without needing approval from male relatives
- Recognized women’s property rights in marriage and divorce
In El Salvador, Oxfam is partnering with local organizations to combat the high rate of violence against women. We pinpointed violence-prone areas, and trained local activists to educate women about their rights. Signs of progress include:
- Increased use of public social services
- Broader public understanding of women’s rights
- New codes of conduct for doctors treating rape victims
Tackling HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa
Goal: $8 million
In sub-Saharan Africa, young women aged 15 to 24 are more than three times as likely to be HIV positive as young men. In many areas, violence against women is a leading factor in HIV infection. Oxfam is pursuing an aggressive strategy, based on human rights, to address the legal and cultural factors that endanger the health of women and girls in southern Africa. Our objectives include:
- Improving access to resources, HIV/AIDS social support services, and education for women and girls
- Pressing for human rights laws and policies that will oblige governments to address gender violence and inequalities that foster the spread of HIV/AIDS
- Developing networks to engage women in legal reforms
