United Church of Canada: KAIROSInitiatives

Published purpose

This project aims to empower women human rights defenders and organizations to effectively participate in post-conflict development and peace and security processes in Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Philippines, South Sudan, and the West Bank. The project strengthens the ability of beneficiaries to use national laws and international human rights frameworks to defend and protect women’s rights in post-conflict settings. Project activities include: (1) providing psychosocial and legal support to help women survivors recover from and seek justice for the physical and psychological violence they have experienced; (2) providing training to women human rights defenders and organizations and other key stakeholders on national and international human rights frameworks and gender-based analysis, as well as organizational strengthening; (3) developing or improving National Action Plans and the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) on women, peace and security; and (4) establishing South-South exchanges to facilitate networking, mutual learning and skills building. This project is expected to directly reach more than 35,000 beneficiaries (78% women and 22% men) in the five countries/territories, including approximately 9,500 women survivors of gender-based violence. In addition, it is expected to reach 200,000 (150,000 women and 50,000 men) indirect beneficiaries nationally, including extended families, community members, networks, government employees and other stakeholders, as well as another two million indirect beneficiaries internationally through networks, coalitions, and social media.