2011 Report - Equality Now

Equality Now
2011 Annual Report
Annual Report 2011 | 1
Equality Now
Fundada en 1992, Igualdad Ya es una organización internacional de derechos Humanos que trabaja para
proteger y promover los derechos de mujeres y niñas en todo el mundo en las áreas de Discriminación en
la Ley, Violencia Sexual, Mutilación Genital Femenina y Trata de Personas. Mediante la combinación del
activismo de base y el trabajo regional, nacional e internacional, la organización trabaja para garantizar que los
gobiernos promulgan y hacen cumplir leyes y políticas que defienden los derechos de las niñas y las mujeres.
La Red Acción Mujeres de Igualdad Ya está formada por grupos y particulares en más de 160 países. Para más
información, visite www.equalitynow.org.
Egalité Maintenant est une organisation internationale de défense des droits humains fondée en 1992 qui
travaille à protéger et promouvoir les droits des femmes et des filles dans le monde. Nous nous concentrons sur
la Discrimination Juridique, les Violences Sexuelles, les Mutilations Génitales Féminines (MGF) et la Traite des
Femmes et des Filles. En combinant activisme de terrain et plaidoyer juridique au niveau national, régional et
international, l’organisation veille à ce que les gouvernements adoptent et appliquent des lois et des politiques
qui défendent les droits des femmes et des filles. Le Réseau Action Femmes d’Egalité Maintenant est composé
de groupes et d’individus répartis dans plus de 160 pays. Pour de plus amples informations, consultez
www.equalitynow.org.
.www.equalitynow.org
2 | Equality Now
Cover photo credits going from top to bottom left to right: Apne Aap, Natalie Jackson, Bless Bless, Suzanna Finley
Founded in 1992, Equality Now is an international human rights organization that works to protect and promote
the rights of women and girls around the world through the areas of Discrimination in Law, Sexual Violence,
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and Trafficking. By combining grassroots activism with international, regional
and national legal advocacy, the organization works to ensure that governments enact and enforce laws and
policies that uphold the rights of women and girls. Equality Now’s Women’s Action Network is comprised of
groups and individuals in more than 160 countries. For more information visit www.equalitynow.org.
2011: yEaR iN REViEw
Equality Now had an exciting year in 2011.
We underwent a strategic planning process
and reorganization to allow us to expand our
presence and better respond to the demands
of the women’s movement around the world.
As you’ll read in this report, Equality Now
continues to have a positive impact in all
of our program areas. Our 2011 Actions
and Alerts encompassed Liberia, Saudi
Arabia, Egypt, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, the
United States and Pakistan, ensuring that
government officials felt the combined voices
of our 160 country-strong Women’s Action
Network on issues of critical importance
to women. We are employing the highest
levels of legal advocacy to address sex
discrimination in law; working strategically
to ensure that legal systems provide access
to justice for survivors of sexual violence;
continuing our leadership role in the fight to
end FGM worldwide; and stepping up efforts
against sex trafficking and sex tourism.
It is critical that we remain vigilant in
the face of backlash on women’s rights
emanating from escalating fundamentalisms
around the globe which, our worldwide
partners reaffirm, often manifests as calls
for cultural relativism. We must preserve
and expand gains on women’s rights, and we
are counting on you to help us continue the
momentum.
Thank you for taking action and for your
generosity. We appreciate your partnership
on this journey.
©Suzanna Finley
Warm regards,
Yasmeen Hassan, Global Director
Annual Report 2011 | 3
resumen del año • l’année en revue •
2011 fue un año emocionante para Igualdad Ya. Iniciamos un proceso de planificación
estratégica y reorganización para ampliar nuestra presencia y responder mejor a las demandas del movimiento de
mujeres en todo el mundo.
Como podrá comprobar al leer este informe, Igualdad Ya continúa teniendo un impacto positivo en todas nuestras
áreas de programa. Con nuestras Acciones y Alertas, que en 2011 abarcaron Liberia, Arabia Saudí, Egipto,
Kirguistán, Líbano, EE. UU. y Pakistán, conseguimos que las autoridades gubernamentales escucharan las voces
unidas de nuestra sólida Red Acción Mujeres, con presencia en 160 países, sobre cuestiones de suma importancia
para las mujeres. Estamos empleando los más altos niveles de defensa legal para combatir la discriminación por
sexo en la ley; estamos trabajando estratégicamente para conseguir que los sistemas jurídicos hagan justicia a
las supervivientes de la violencia sexual; estamos continuando nuestro liderazgo en la lucha para erradicar la
mutilación genital femenina en todo el mundo; y estamos intensificando los esfuerzos para luchar contra el tráfico
y el turismo sexual.
Es de suma importancia que permanezcamos alerta a las reacciones sobre los derechos de las mujeres que se derivan
de los crecientes fundamentalismos en todo el mundo que, tal y como afirman nuestros socios en todo el mundo, a
menudo se manifiestan como llamadas para el relativismo cultural. Debemos preservar y ampliar aún más los logros
conseguidos en los derechos de las mujeres y contamos con ustedes para ayudarnos a continuar con el impulso.
Gracias por actuar y por su generosidad. Agradecemos su colaboración en este viaje.
L’année 2011 fut enthousiasmante pour Egalité Maintenant. Nous avons opéré une
réorganisation et procédé à une planification stratégique afin de nous permettre d’étendre notre présence et de
mieux répondre aux revendications des femmes à travers le monde.
Comme vous le verrez dans ce rapport, Egalité Maintenant continue d’avoir un impact positif sur l’ensemble de
nos domaines d’activité. Nos Actions et Alertes de 2011 ont porté sur le Libéria, l’Arabie saoudite, l’Egypte, le
Kirghizistan, le Liban, les Etats-Unis et le Pakistan. Nous veillons à ce que les membres de notre Réseau Action
Femmes, présents dans 160 pays, soient entendus par les gouvernements sur des questions d’importance cruciale
pour les femmes. Nous menons des plaidoyers juridiques de haut niveau pour lutter contre la discrimination juridique
envers les femmes, travaillons de façon stratégique afin de s’assurer que les victimes de violences sexuelles aient
accès à la justice, continuons notre rôle de premier plan dans la lutte pour mettre fin aux MGF dans le monde, et
intensifions nos efforts contre la traite et le tourisme sexuels.
Il est essentiel que nous demeurions vigilants face à la monté de l’intégrisme qui, selon nos partenaires, se
manifeste souvent par une acceptation du relativisme culturel et a des conséquences négatives sur les droits des
femmes. Nous devons préserver et étendre les acquis relatifs aux droits des femmes, et nous comptons sur vous
pour nous aider à continuer sur notre lancée.
Nous vous remercions de votre mobilisation, de votre générosité, et apprécions votre collaboration.
4 | Equality Now
Our Vision: a world in which women and men have equal rights under the law and full
enjoyment of those rights.
Our Mission: to achieve legal and systemic change that addresses violence and discrimination
against women and girls around the world.
Our Methods: Equality Now employs a social change model that links high level international
and legal advocacy to specific cases of women and girls to ensure change at all levels through:
•International advocacy, including through mobilization of our network
•Awareness-raising by highlighting cases of violations and through the media
•Partnerships and coalition-building with grassroots level women’s rights groups
•Strengthening international and regional human rights law and mechanisms
•Conducting strategic litigation at national, regional and international levels to
establish legal precedents
•Mobilizing financial and capacity-building support
Our Program Areas:
DISCRIMINATION IN LAW
Equality Now works integrally in all its program areas to ensure elimination of sex discrimination in the
law and to advocate for women’s equal access to justice at all levels.
SEXUAL VIOLENCE
Equality Now works to end sexual violence through prevention and effective response. By advocating for
proper investigation, prosecution and punishment of perpetrators of sexual violence, we strive to hold
governments accountable to national, regional and international legal standards. To address the particular
vulnerability of adolescent girls to sexual violence, we support and promote strategic cases to remove
common obstacles to justice through our Adolescent Girls’ Legal Defense Fund (AGLDF).
FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION (FGM)
Equality Now supports the work of grassroots groups to end FGM with a particular focus on the
enactment and effective implementation of legislation against FGM in relevant countries. Additionally
we work to ensure that the international community addresses the practice as a human rights violation.
TRAFFICKING
Equality Now believes that the most effective way to end sex trafficking is to address the demand
for commercial sex—criminalizing traffickers and buyers of sex, while decriminalizing and protecting
victims and providing them with rehabilitative services and support. We advocate for the passage and
implementation of strong anti-trafficking legislation.
©Lena Stein
Our Reach:
•Offices in New York, Nairobi and London
•Presences in Amman, Jordan and Washington, DC
•Special initiative in Lusaka, Zambia
•Members and supporters in more than 160 countries
Annual Report 2011 | 5
Campaign Snapshot - Focus in 2011
 Global: Repeal/amend sex discriminatory laws
 Africa: Push for the ratification, domestication
& implementation of the Protocol on the Rights
of Women in Africa
 Egypt: Integrate women’s rights post-revolution
 Lebanon: Reform sex discriminatory
nationality laws
 Saudi Arabia: Eliminate the male
guardianship system over women & the ban on
women driving
 seXual vIolenCe
 Kenya: Ensure police accountability in cases of
sexual violence against adolescent girls
 Kyrgyzstan: End bride kidnapping
 Pakistan: Enact incest law, reform procedures on
sexual violence & end police impunity for violence
against women & girls
 Saudi Arabia & Yemen: Ban child marriage
 Uganda: Implement special measures for
disabled victims of sexual violence
 USA: Advocate for the International Protecting
Girls by Preventing Child Marriage Act
 Zambia: Empower girls & establish systems to
prevent sexual violence in schools
6 | Equality Now
©Suzanna Finley
 DISCRIMINATION IN LAW
 FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION (FGM)
 Kenya: Strengthen the anti-FGM law
 Liberia & Mali: Campaign for a law banning FGM
 USA: Advocate for the amendment criminalizing the
transportation of girls abroad to subject them to FGM
 UK: Create a government strategy to end FGM
 TRAFFICKING
 Australia, India & Israel: Adopt & implement strong
anti-trafficking laws
 Brazil & USA: Enact & enforce strong anti-trafficking
laws, particularly addressing demand & sex tourism
 Pakistan: Pass domestic anti-trafficking laws
incorporating girls in domestic servitude
Annual Report 2011 | 7
STEPS TO PROGRESS: Impact of our Campaigns
Beijing +15: Ending discrimination in law globally
NY Legal Advisor Antonia Kirkland with interns Selamawit Tesfaye
Gebremehdin and Carmen Hawker at UN CEDAW session in July
Since the launch of Equality Now’s
Words and Deeds: Holding Governments Accountable in the Beijing +5
Review Process campaign in 1999 (with
follow-ups in 2004 and 2010), more
than half of the sex discriminatory laws
identified in our reports have been
repealed. In 2011, such repeals and
amendments addressed gender-based
restrictions in combat (Australia) and
some discrimination in nationality laws
(Monaco). Similarly, Lebanon introduced regulations giving more rights to
non-Lebanese spouses and children of
Lebanese women.
Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa:
Making rights a reality for African women
Equality Now continues to promote the
ratification and implementation of the
Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa
(the Protocol), a ground breaking regional
legal instrument that we played a key role
in drafting. Through 2011, 31 out of 54
African countries had ratified the Protocol
largely due to the efforts of the SOAWR
Coalition of which Equality Now serves
as the Secretariat. To help train lawyers
and activists to use it effectively, we
published A Guide to Using the Protocol
on the Rights of Women in Africa for Legal
Action (available in English, French and
Portuguese; Arabic translation pending) in
2011. At a meeting convened in partnership
with Oxfam, we trained activists and
lawyers from 12 countries on its potential
usage in domestic and regional litigation.
Staff also undertook advocacy missions
to African Union summits in Ethiopia,
Equatorial Guinea, Cote d’Ivoire, South
8 | Equality Now
Elizabeth Muli, Vice-Chair of the Commission on the
Implementation of the Constitution, Kenya with Equality Now’s
Faiza Jama Mohamed, Caroline Muthoni Muriithi and Corey
Calabrese at the Protocol Manual launch
57%
ratified the Protocol
of African
Union member
states have
Africa and Tanzania to further our campaign efforts. Equality Now continues to partner with organizations to
develop new coalition strategies and provide training across the continent.
We hope African lawyers and women’s rights advocates find the manual
useful and it gives them hands-on guidance on how best to apply the
remarkable standards of the Protocol in cases of violations of women’s rights.
– Faiza Jama Mohamed, Nairobi Office Director
Mali: Fighting for a law to end FGM
Equality Now continues to call on Mali to ban FGM. In October, we used the complaint procedure under the
Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) to ask the CEDAW Committee to
conduct an inquiry into Mali’s failure to protect girls and women from FGM. If accepted, the petition will be
the first inquiry related to FGM under CEDAW’s Optional Protocol.
Pakistan: Justice in incest case
Following more than two years of persistent efforts by Equality Now, War
Against Rape (WAR) Lahore and the Nasreen Welfare Foundation (NWT), on
22 July a judge in Lahore, Pakistan sentenced a father with the highest penalty
for raping his then 15-year-old daughter “Mariam.” The sentence affirmed that
the justice system can work for vulnerable and typically voiceless victims, and
underscored the need for reform of Pakistani sexual violence laws and court
procedures. Consequently, Equality Now, WAR and NWT carried out a study
on incest in Pakistan and published the first report (in English and Urdu) on
the subject to support legal and societal reform. The report identifies victims’
obstacles to justice and provides solutions based on best practices from other countries.
PARTNER PROFILE: SIDRA HUMAYUN
Confronting Sexual Violence Head On in Pakistan
Sidra Humayun has worked at War Against Rape (WAR) Lahore, an organization dealing with the issue of sexual violence, one of the most taboo, yet
widespread, issues facing women in Pakistan since 2005. Her work to end
sexual abuse against women includes providing counseling and direct support
to survivors, as well as ensuring that the criminal justice
and medical systems respond effectively to the complex
needs of victims. After meeting at a 2009 Violence Against
Women conference in Pakistan, Equality Now partnered with WAR
and the Nasreen Welfare Trust on the case of incest survivor “Mariam” that led
to a groundbreaking study on incest in Pakistan. Despite threats against her,
Sidra continues to volunteer her time to assist vulnerable women and girls and
helps them to access services that would otherwise be unavailable to them.
Annual Report 2011 | 9
Liberia: Taking on “secret societies” to end FGM
In March, Equality Now
launched a campaign calling
for justice in the case of
Ruth Berry Peal, who was
abducted and forcibly
subjected to FGM by women
belonging to a Sande secret
society in 2010. We also
called on the government to
ban FGM and cease issuing
permits to FGM practitioners.
At meetings following our
Action, government officials
announced an investigation
into Ruth’s case and informed
us that they would stop
issuing permits and consider
Lawyer Deddeh Jomah Wilson with Ruth Berry Peal at court
a law banning the practice.
On 8 July, the court found the women guilty and sentenced them to three years in prison (case currently on
appeal). In November, the government banned Sande activities and gave notice to all counties, including the
announcement of a fine for violations. Equality Now and our partners continue to push for an anti-FGM law
and to ensure that the ban on Sande activities is enforced.
Yemen: Moving the agenda forward to ban child marriage
A year after Equality Now and partner Yemen Women Union (YWU) became involved in the case of “Wafa,”
an 11-year-old girl married off to a violent 40-year-old man, Wafa was able to resume her education and a
court granted her a divorce in 2011. Though we helped secure
the divorce, Wafa’s case highlighted that without a law banning
child marriage, child brides remain at constant risk of exploitation and abuse. As a result of Equality Now submissions to the
UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) and CEDAW,
the Yemeni government has been questioned on the steps it
is taking to prevent child marriage. We continue to work with
YWU to advocate for a minimum age of marriage law.
My message to other parents is that
they should not think of marrying their
daughters at a young age, girls should
go to school. I don’t want any girl to
suffer as I did. – Wafa
MENA Consultant Suad Abu-Dayyeh
with Wafa
10 | Equality Now
Brazil/United States:
Pioneering strategies to
deter sex tourism
In June, a civil case that Equality
Now initiated and helped
facilitate, was filed in the U.S.
on behalf of four Brazilian girls
who had been sexually exploited
by clients of a U.S. fishing tour
company operating in Brazil. We
believe that this case was the
first filed under the civil remedy
provision of the Trafficking Victims
Protection Act on behalf of sex
tourism victims, and hope to set
a precedent that will serve as a
deterrent to perpetrators. The case received substantial international media coverage, especially in Brazil, prompting Brazilian
government officials to pledge to take action on the issues of sex
tourism and human trafficking. Equality Now provided information
to the Brazilian Senators leading the inquiry.
FGM in the UK
London FGM Programme Advocacy Director Efua Dorkenoo
& MP Jane Ellison in UK House of Commons, October 2011
In December, Equality Now was named Secretariat to the UK’s newly-formed All Party
Parliamentary Group (APPG) on FGM in recognition of our expert knowledge and strategic work
on the issue in the UK and Africa. Comprised
of more than 50 Members of Parliament and
Peers representing all the main political parties,
the APPG will work with the government and
NGOs to raise awareness of the issue in the UK
and abroad and create an actionable strategy
to prevent and eliminate the practice. Equality
Now played an important role in supporting the
creation of the Group and will provide ongoing
advisory support drawing on our nearly 20 years
of global expertise and influence.
The laws and resources needed to stop this harmful and illegal practice
are already in place, so there is no excuse for continuing to fail our girls.
– Efua Dorkenoo at APPG launch
Annual Report 2011 | 11
©Natalie Jackson
Zambia: Building strong coalitions to address sexual abuse of girls in schools
Funded by a three-year UN Trust Fund grant, Equality Now commenced our second year managing a coalition
working to end sexual violence against school girls. The targeting of youth has been particularly successful,
resulting in lively inter-school co-ed debates and plays addressing sexual violence; five “Safe Spaces” clubs
reaching 1500-2000 girls who are breaking their silence and being educated on their rights; five boys’ network
clubs reaching 600-1000 boys challenging stereotypes that condone sexual violence; and the participation of
girls and boys in radio programs on the issue. We also trained
more than 25 legal professionals on the usage of laws to
defend girls’ rights and approximately 25 journalists to better
report on violence against girls. New leadership in Zambia is
showing an interest in the coalition’s work and Equality Now is
hopeful that there will be increased opportunities for enactment
and implementation of guidelines targeting violence against
girls in schools.
Left: Chongwe Boys Network Youth Day celebrations;
above: Safe Space girls with their mentor
PROFILE: COREY CALABRESE
Legal Fellow – Nairobi, Kenya & Lusaka, Zambia
“When you think of international women’s rights, you think of Equality Now. The most important
thing I learned in my year with Equality Now was how powerful the women’s rights
movement is in Zambia and Kenya. The
women I worked with were incredibly
inspiring on top of being well organized
and effective at pushing their national
women’s rights agendas. It was
incredibly impressive to witness the
movement in these countries that are
still very patriarchal. I wanted to take
Edwina Warambo, Santana
their momentum back with me to the
Monda, Corey Calabrese and
Michaela Wallin in Nairobi
United States.”
12 | Equality Now
Engaging the Public
power of one individual
“The
to take action is critical;
but together, we are key in
making this world a better
and safer place for everyone.”
To honor the 100th anniversary of
International Women’s Day on 8
March, Equality Now launched the
“100 Steps to Equality” campaign.
We provided a snapshot of 100 facts
and instances of women’s inequality
worldwide and tied them to concrete actions, large
and small, that individuals could take to address them.
By illustrating how small steps can collectively have
a large impact, Equality Now celebrated the motto of
thinking globally and acting locally to make a better
world for women and girls.
Sr. Policy Advisor Shelby Quast at Stop Modern
Slavery rally in Washington, DC
SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWERS
January-December 2011
=
6,037
10,819
=
London Office Director Jacqui Hunt and Apne Aap’s
Anindita Roy at the No to Domestic Violence! Conference
2011 in Istanbul
2,750
79%
increase
126%
increase
6,214
Annual Report 2011 | 13
a world where gender equality is reality. What
“Imagine
does it look like? Tell us. Share it. Make it happen.”
In advance of our 20th
anniversary in 2012,
Equality Now debuted
our “What Does Equality
Mean to You?” video PSA
campaign in September.
The two step campaign featured an animated
video illustrating different aspects of sex inequality
and invited the public to share their personal
views on equality. Videos from around the world
were posted, including submissions from Gloria
Steinem, Grace Gummer and our global partners.
equalitynow.org/me
180,618
website visits from
205
countries (January - December, 2011)
Korean Center for UN Human Rights Policy (KOCUN) Representative Heisoo Shin brought visiting KOCUN students
to Equality Now’s offices in New York to meet with Equality Now’s Yasmeen Hassan, Kristen Berg and Mehr Qureshi
14 | Equality Now
Grassroots Partnerships
Working together to end female genital mutilation
From 2001 through 2011, Equality Now’s Fund for Grassroots Activism to End FGM provided financial
support and technical assistance to 41 groups from 21 African countries, enabling activists to innovate
and implement local interventions on eliminating FGM. Five of the organizations showcased in our film
Africa Rising were FGM Fund grantee-partners.
PARTNER PROFILE: DR. ISATOU TOURAY
Risking Everything to End Harmful Traditional Practices in The Gambia
Dr. Isatou Touray is the Executive Director of the Gambia Committee on Traditional
Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children
(GAMCOTRAP), a women’s group working to end
FGM and child marriage in The Gambia since 1984,
and a longtime Equality Now grantee-partner.
Through GAMCOTRAP’s awareness-raising,
engagement of young people, work with
circumcisers to abandon FGM and advocacy at international
and local levels, Dr. Touray is raising the consciousness of
FGM-practicing communities. The organization faces stiff
resistance from FGM practitioners and the State, but refuses
to be silenced and continues to make great strides in the fight
to end FGM in The Gambia.
Creating global
connections between
groups addressing sex
trafficking
On 9-10 May, activists—including trafficking survivors—representing eight countries came together in New York to share
their successes and challenges and to
brainstorm new ways to collaborate and
support each other’s national and international efforts. Several joint initiatives to
highlight the global nature of the issue and promote
the fight against sex trafficking were planned.
Trafficking Fund Meeting in New York
From 2007 through 2011, Equality Now’s Fund for Grassroots Activism to End Sex Trafficking supported 12
international organizations that provided vital services to trafficking survivors. A number of the granteepartner organizations have become international standard setters on the issue.
Annual Report 2011 | 15
Noticias
Discriminación en la ley: Igualdad Ya continúa con su campaña para derogar las leyes discriminatorias por
cuestión de sexo, y en 2011 consiguió sacar adelante derogaciones o enmiendas de leyes en Australia, Líbano
y Mónaco. Continuamos presionando para la ratificación e implementación del Protocolo sobre los Derechos
de la Mujer en África, que fue ratificado por Guinea Ecuatorial y Gabón este año aumentando así a 31 el
número total de ratificaciones. También estamos trabajando para que los derechos de la mujer se integren
en el Egipto post-revolucionario. Nuestra campaña para eliminar el sistema de la tutela masculina en Arabia
Saudí y revocar la prohibición de conducir para las mujeres sigue en marcha.
violencia sexual: Igualdad Ya inició campañas para una reforma jurídica, responsabilidad policial y unos
mejores procedimientos y acceso a la justicia en los casos de violencia sexual contra chicas adolescentes en
Kenia, Pakistán y Uganda; para acabar con el rapto de novias en Kirguistán; para prohibir el matrimonio infantil
en Arabia Saudí y Yemen; para la promulgación de la Ley de Protección Internacional de Niñas impidiendo
el Matrimonio Infantil en EE. UU.; y completamos el segundo año de un ambicioso proyecto para abordar la
violencia sexual en los colegios de Zambia. Cabe destacar que logramos obtener la mayor condena legal para
un caso de incesto en Pakistán y el divorcio para una niña en Yemen, sentando así importantes precedentes
judiciales. Junto con nuestros socios, publicamos el primer informe sobre el incesto en Pakistán.
Trata de personas: Igualdad Ya inició una campaña para que Australia, India, Israel y EE. UU. aprobaran e
implementaran sólidas leyes contra la trata de personas y para la adopción de leyes nacionales contra la trata
de personas que incluyeran a las niñas en servidumbre doméstica en Pakistán. También ayudamos a iniciar un
caso civil en EE. UU. en nombre de unas niñas brasileñas que habían sido explotadas sexualmente por clientes
de una empresa estadounidense de viajes de pesca que operaba en Brasil; consideramos que este es el primer
caso civil en nombre de víctimas del turismo sexual que se inicia en virtud de la Ley de Protección de Víctimas
de la Trata de Personas. Entre 2007 y 2011, el Fondo para el Activismo de Base para Poner Fin a la Trata de
Personas de Igualdad Ya ayudó a 12 organizaciones internacionales que proporcionaban servicios vitales a los
supervivientes de la trata de personas. En el mes de mayo, celebramos una reunión para activistas de ocho
países en la que pudieron compartir sus éxitos y retos y pensar en nuevas maneras para colaborar.
16 | Equality Now
©Mehr Qureshi
Mutilación Genital femenina: Igualdad Ya continua exigiendo leyes que prohíban la mutilación genital
femenina en Liberia y Mali y estamos trabajando para reforzar la legislación existente en Kenia. En 2011,
logramos con éxito que el gobierno de Liberia prohibiera las sociedades secretas que llevan a cabo la
mutilación genital femenina. En EE. UU., abogamos por la penalización del transporte de niñas al extranjero
para someterlas a la mutilación genital femenina. En el Reino Unido fuimos designados como Secretaría del
nuevo Grupo Parlamentario de Todos los Partidos sobre la Mutilación Genital Femenina y estamos ayudando al
gobierno a crear una estrategia para acabar con la Mutilación Genital Femenina. Entre 2001 y 2011, el Fondo
para el Activismo de Base para Poner Fin a la Mutilación Genital Femenina de Igualdad Ya concedió más de
2 millones de dólares estadounidenses a 41 grupos de 21 países africanos, permitiendo que los activistas
innovaran y llevaran a cabo intervenciones locales para acabar con la Mutilación Genital Femenina.
Faits marquants
Discrimination juridique: Egalité Maintenant continue les campagnes pour faire abroger les lois sexistes et
discriminatoires. En 2011, ces campagnes ont abouti à l’abrogation ou à la modification de lois en Australie, au
Liban et à Monaco. Nous continuons à faire pression pour la ratification et la mise en œuvre du Protocole sur les
droits des femmes en Afrique, qui a cette année été ratifié par la Guinée équatoriale et le Gabon, les 30e et 31e pays
signataires. Nous travaillons également à travailler pour veiller à ce que les droits des femmes soient pris en compte
dans l’Egypte post-Moubarak. Enfin, notre campagne ayant pour objectif l’abrogation de l’interdiction de conduire
pour les femmes et l’éradication du système de tutelle masculine en Arabie Saoudite est toujours en cours.
violences sexuelles: Egalité Maintenant a fait campagne pour des réformes juridiques, pour un meilleur
accès à la justice, pour une amélioration des procédures, et pour que la police rende des comptes dans des
affaires de violences sexuelles contre des adolescentes au Kenya, au Pakistan et en Ouganda. Nous avons
également fait campagne pour mettre fin au mariage par enlèvement au Kirghizistan, pour une interdiction des
mariages d’enfants en Arabie saoudite et au Yémen, pour l’adoption de la Loi Internationale pour Protéger les
Filles en Interdire le Mariage d’Enfants aux États-Unis, et nous sommes entrés dans la deuxième année d’un
ambitieux projet qui vise à lutter contre la violence sexuelle dans les écoles en Zambie. Nous avons réussi
à créer d’importants précédents juridiques en obtenant la peine maximale prévue par la loi pour une affaire
d’inceste au Pakistan et en faisant accorder un divorce pour une enfant mariée au Yémen. Avec l’aide de nos
partenaires, nous avons aussi publié le premier rapport sur l’inceste au Pakistan.
Mutilations génitales féminines: Egalité Maintenant continue d’appeler à l’adoption de lois anti-MGF
au Libéria et au Mali, et nous travaillons à renforcer la législation en vigueur au Kenya. En 2011, nous avons
réussi à faire en sorte que le gouvernement libérien interdise des sociétés clandestines qui pratiquent les
MGF. Aux Etats-Unis, nous avons préconisé la criminalisation du transport de filles à l’étranger lorsqu’il a pour
but de leur faire subir des MGF. Au Royaume-Uni, nous avons été nommés au Secrétariat du nouveau Groupe
britannique parlementaire sur les MGF et apportons notre appui au gouvernement pour créer une stratégie
afin d’éliminer la pratique. De 2001 à 2011, le Fonds d’aide aux organisations de terrain pour l’éradication
des MGF d’Egalité Maintenant a alloué plus de 2 millions de dollars à 41 groupes de 21 pays africains, ce qui
permet aux militants d’innover et de mettre en œuvre des initiatives locales pour éliminer les MGF.
Traite des femmes et des filles: Egalité Maintenant a fait campagne pour que l’Australie, l’Inde, Israël
et les Etats-Unis adoptent et mettent en œuvre de solides lois contre la traite, et pour l’adoption de lois
anti-traite au Pakistan qui prennent en compte l’asservissement domestique des filles. Aux Etats-Unis, nous
avons également aidé à déposer une action au civil au nom de filles brésiliennes qui avaient été exploitées
sexuellement par des clients d’une société de pêche américaine opérant au Brésil. Nous pensons qu’il s’agit
de la première action au civil en vertu de la loi sur la traite introduite au nom de victimes du tourisme sexuel.
De 2007 à 2011, le Fonds d’aide aux organisations de terrain pour l’éradication de la traite à des fins sexuelles
d’Egalité Maintenant a soutenu 12 organisations internationales qui ont fourni des services essentiels aux
rescapées de la traite. En mai, nous avons organisé une réunion pour des militants venus de huit pays afin
qu’ils communiquent leurs réussites, leurs difficultés, et réfléchissent à de nouvelles façons de collaborer.
Annual Report 2011 | 17
©Suzanna Finley
18 | Equality Now
Global Support
Equality Now is grateful for all of our donors whose support makes our
work possible. In particular, we would like to recognize the generosity of
the following organizations and individuals.
INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT
LEADERSHIP CIRCLE
$5000+ during the past year
A G Foundation
The Shana Alexander Charitable Foundation
Arkay Foundation
The Banky-Larocque Foundation
The Buffin Foundation
The Bydale Foundation
Carlson Family Foundation, Inc.
The Dreitzer Foundation, Inc.
The Flora Family Foundation
Foundation Open Society Institute
Malcolm Gibbs Foundation
Global Giving Foundation
Jana Foundation, Inc.
The Margaret and Daniel LoebThird Point Foundation
New Field Foundation Fund of
Tides Foundation
Nike Foundation
NoVo Foundation
Oxfam Great Britain
Oxfam Novib
Rowland & Sylvia Schaefer Family
Foundation
Seymour 1989 Trust
Silver Mountain Foundation for the Arts
Jane M. Timken Foundation
The Ruth Turner Fund, Inc.
UN Trust Fund to End Violence
Against Women
UN Women West Africa Regional Office
Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald
Charitable Foundation
Working Assets/CREDO
Individual giving $1000+
Page H. Adler
Stuart Applebaum
Jody Arnhold
Zaiba Baig
Betsy Borns
Susan K. Burlinson-Lauer
J. S. and Martha H. Carroll
Helen Carter
Mickey Chapman
Alexandra Chasin
Carrie Craven
Nina D’Ambra
Peggy Darwin
Kathleen Deegan
Joseph D’Errico
John DiFonzo
Abigail E. Disney
Christine A. Doyle and Michael Yessick
Eve Ensler
Jodie Evans
Edward P. Flaherty
Working Assets/
CREDO Representative Maia Ettinger
with Taina Bien-Aimé
Annual Report 2011 | 19
Jane Fonda
Adrienne and Ervin A. Gombos
Victoria Gomez-Trenor
Pennelope Goodfriend
Ann Colin Herbst
Tracey Hogan
David and Nicole Hoover
Kenneth J. Hughes
Eleanor Janeway
Nancy Kaplan
Bo Kyun Kim
Karen Krahulik and Susan Allee
Honor Lassalle
Brenda Lawhorn
Mavis Leno
Ann MacDougall
Suheir A. Mahshi
Thomas D. Matte
Lauren McCann
Lauren McEwen
Gail McGreevy Harmon
Pamela McGreevy
Myriam Miedzian
Betsy Mitchell
David K. Moody and Eileen Guilfoyle
What I have gone through made me lose my
ambitions but from now I have started a new life
full of flying colors. I am glad to have people like
you supporting me in times of need.
– Niara, 17-year-old incest and gang rape survivor, Kenya
Mark Moraes
Smita Nayak
Therese Nelson and
Robert Vassar
Gloria S. Neuwirth
Penna North
Ellen Nusblatt
Laura J. O’Shea
Michael Parley
Mary A. Parsons
Nathalie Pettus
Edyta Pirog
Paula Ravets
Deirdre Roney
Luauna Rule
Anne H. Russell
Melissa Salten Rothman
Ruth Sample
Bonnie and Jamie D. Schaefer
LEGACY SOCIETY
By donating to Equality Now through their estate
plans, members ensure their legacy as champions of
the rights of women and girls. Those who wish to
remain anonymous are not listed.
Beverly Benoit
Dr. Michele Dayras
Ruth Garfield
Adrienne Gombos
Elizabeth Iannone
Laurie Jenkins
Kate Lauer
20 | Equality Now
John Levin and Diane Keefe
Laura A. Lewis
Caroline Mcmanus
Gloria Neuwirth
Rosemary Sullivan
Erica Taylor
Grace Warolin
Marla Schaefer
Susan Schewel
Leila Shakkour and Mike Thorne
Michelle D. Shardell
Kristine Shields
Karen A. Simonsen and
Linda J. Sherline
Mitchell Slep
Colleen Smalley
Susan L. Smalley
Kristin K. Stitz and
J. Scott Coleman
Meryl Streep
Heidi F. Troester
Elizabeth Walters
Jonathan A. Willens and
Julia Beardwood
The Equality Now Team
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jessica Neuwirth,
President, on leave
Maha Abu-Dayyeh Shamas,
Acting President
Lisa Alter, Treasurer
Meaza Ashenafi
Colette De Troy
Sapana Pradhan-Malla
Cecilia Quiroga Medina
Gloria Steinem
Yukiko Tsunoda
Helen Zia
Yasmeen Hassan (ex-officio)
Jacqueline Hunt,
Secretary, (ex-officio)
Faiza Jama Mohamed (ex-officio)
UK TRUSTEES
Jessica Neuwirth
Maha Abu-Dayyeh Shamas
Lisa Alter
Meaza Ashenafi
Colette De Troy
Elizabeth Evatt
Sapana Pradhan-Malla
Cecilia Quiroga Medina
Gloria Steinem
Yukiko Tsunoda
Helen Zia
Yasmeen Hassan (ex-officio)
Faiza Jama Mohamed (ex officio)
ProFIle: elIZaBeTH evaTT
Elizabeth Evatt has been a UK Trustee of
Equality Now since 2005 and a member
of the Adolescent Girls’ Legal Defense
Fund Advisory Board since its inception.
For decades she has been an outspoken
advocate on human rights issues in
her native Australia, particularly those
concerning women’s rights. The first
woman to preside over an Australian court, she was the
founding chief judge of the Family Court in Australia and
former president of the Australian Law Reform Commission.
Elizabeth Evatt chaired the CEDAW Committee and was the
first Australian elected to the UN Human Rights Committee,
spearheading landmark decisions to protect the rights of
women. She is currently a commissioner of the
International Commission of Jurists. In recognition of her work to advance gender
equality, she was presented with the
2011 Australia Post Australian Legends
Award in January and immortalized on
a postage stamp.
advIsorY Board
Deborah Taylor Ashford
Elizabeth Odio Benito
Helen Bernstein
Winnie Byanyima
Edwidge Danticat
Amanda Fox
Lela Goren
Chandra Jessee
Sarah Jones
Christine Lahti
Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge
Robin Morgan
Alanis Morissette
Irene Kubota Neves
Lynn Nottage
Joan Ruddock
Bonnie Schaefer
Marla Schaefer
Diala Shamas
Sue Smalley
Meryl Streep
Rose Styron
Joss Whedon
Timothy Wilkins
Liz Young
aGldF advIsorY Board
Judith Bruce, Chair
Dale Buscher
Elizabeth Evatt
Jane Fonda
Marianne Gimon
Ann Graham
Steve Hammond
Judge Claire L’Heureux Dubé
Carolyn Makinson
Annual Report 2011 | 21
GLOBAL
Yasmeen Hassan,
Global Director
Suzanna Finley,
Executive Assistant
NEW YORK
Taina Bien-Aimé,
Outgoing Executive
Director
Brenda Kombo,
Senior Program Officer
Caroline Muthoni
Muriithi, Program Officer
Grace Uwizeye,
Program Officer
Corey Calabrese,
Legal Fellow
Kristen Berg,
LONDON
Jacqueline Hunt,
Caroline Berger,
Mutanser Ashraf,
Program Officer
Website & Social Media
Manager
Catherine Brandli,
Director
Development Associate
Efua Dorkenoo,
Development Director
Advocacy Director, FGM
Programme
Antonia Kirkland,
Claire Dupuy,
Siobahn Loughman,
Anber Raz,
Cossette Morillo,
Maeve O’Rourke,
Legal Advisor
Database Manager
Office Manager
Mehr Qureshi,
Program Officer
Amanda Sullivan,
Women’s Action Network
Director
Washington, DC
Shelby Quast,
Senior Policy Advisor
NAIROBI
Faiza Jama Mohamed,
Director
Mary Ciugu,
Office Manager
London staff
22 | Equality Now
Equality Now thanks Taina Bien-Aimé for her nearly 20
years of support and dedication and for helping make us
a leader in the movement to protect and advance women’s
rights around the world.
Office Manager
Programme Officer
Legal Fellow
CONSULTANTS
Suad Abu-Dayyeh
Karen Asare
Kenneth Franzblau
Michael Indeglio
Shoji Masuzawa
Ingrid Rogers
Alice Sciara
Eugenia Temba
Nairobi staff and interns
INTERNS
New York
Nadia Abramson
Niat Amare
Aude Coquatrix
Kim Francis
Selamawit Tesfaye
Gebremehdin
Caitlin Gullickson
Carmen Hawker
Tina Millburn
Katarina O’Regan
Erica Salerno
Lauren Shohat
Makda Mikre Tessema
Elizabeth Walsh
Nairobi
Sophie Henning
Santana Monda
Muthoni Mucheru
Michaela Wallin
Edwina Warambo
London
Laura Clarke
Volunteers
Milan Bien-Aimé
Sarah Vincent
Irene Rajarigam
Financial Statement
Statement of FINANCIAL POSITION ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents
Investments
Contributions and grants receivable
Prepaid expenses
Property and equipment, net
Other assets
Beneficial Interest trust
Total assets
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
Grants payable
Deferred revenue
Deferred rent
Total liabilities
NET ASSETS
Unrestricted
Temporarily restricted
Total net assets
Total liabilities and net assets
2011
2010
$1,175,403 977,448 377,788 68,278 42,754 45,114 101,896
$2,788,681 $1,382,746
969,032
1,028,427
40,134
41,894
43,467
$3,505,700
$157,312 10,000 156,175 -
$323,487 $223,805
8,500
99,666
26,807
$358,778
$1,492,536 972,658 $2,465,194 $2,788,681 $1,398,030
1,748,892
$3,146,922
$3,505,700
2011
2010
$882,289 662,087 36,903 -
258,410 11,626 (36,110)
32,528 1,847,733 1,792,608 3,640,341 $314,755
937,302
12,692
277,306
24,272
(14,091)
19,082
1,571,318
1,191,887
2,763,205
737,143 582,793 595,093 490,141 324,189 2,729,359 780,405
418,583
422,183
577,795
344,896
2,543,862
580,926 235,550 816,476 3,545,835 94,506 376,926
228,610
605,536
3,149,398
(386,193)
1,016,374 (1,792,608)
(776,234)
(681,728)
3,146,922 $2,465,194 1,162,824
(1,191,887)
(29,063)
(415,256)
3,562,178
$3,146,922
STATEMENTS OF ACTIVITIES
UNRESTRICTED NET ASSETS
Public support and revenue
Contributions and grants
Foundations
Individual donors
Corporations
Special events, net
Donated goods and services
Investment income
Net realized currency loss
Other income
Public support and revenue before release of restrictions
Net assets released from restrictions
Total public support and revenue
Expenses
Program services
Sexual Violence
FGM
Trafficking
Discrimination in Law
Outreach
Total program services
Supporting services
Management and general
Fund-raising
Total supporting services
Total expenses
(Decrease) increase in unrestricted net assets
TEMPORARILY RESTRICTED NET ASSETS
Contributions
Net assets released from restrictions
Increase in temporarily restricted net assets
Total increase in temporarily restricted and unrestricted net assets
Net assets: January 1
Net assets: December 31
Auditors Lederer, Levine & Associates, LLC
Annual Report 2011 | 23
PROTECTING AND PROMOTING THE
HUMAN RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND
GIRLS AROUND THE WORLD
Take action: www.equalitynow.org/actions
Donate: www.equalitynow.org/support
Get involved: www.equalitynow.org/get-involved
Educate yourself: www.equalitynow.org/resources
NEW YORK
NAIROBI
LONDON
P.O. Box 20646
Columbus Circle Station
New York, NY 10023
USA
Ph: +1-212-586-0906
Fax: +1-212-586-1611
[email protected]
P.O. Box 2018
00202
Nairobi
KENYA
Ph: +254-20-271-9913/9832
Fax: +254-20-271-9868
[email protected]
1 Birdcage Walk
London SW1H 9JJ
UNITED KINGDOM
Ph: +44 (0) 20-7304-6902
Fax: +44 (0)20-7973-1292
[email protected]
24 | Equality Now
Registered charity,
number 1107613
Company number 4926476