Equality Now

Our latest piece covering the conflict in Sudan highlights the impact of #SexualViolence on women and girls, who are being deterred from reporting sexual assaults. As an organization dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the human rights of all women and girls, we condemn all acts of gender-based and sexual violence against women and girls, including as a weapon of war. Read more on our work on sexual violence in conflict https://lnkd.in/ewJZVkES #EndSexualViolence #WomensRights #GenderEquality

Join Equality Now at the first-ever Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children in Bogotá, Colombia, on November 7-8, 2024. Government officials, children, youth, survivors, and civil society representatives will join forces to push for an end to all forms of violence against children. Learn more about the events and register now: https://buff.ly/3BWACah Equality Now and its partners will host activities in the days leading up to the conference, creating opportunities for engagement and discussion. Join our Global Executive Director, S. Mona Sinha, along with Global Lead on Ending Harmful Practices, Divya Srinivasan, Legal and Advocacy Advisor for Latin America and the Caribbean, Sandra Ramirez, and Regional Communications Officer, Tamara Rusansky at the following events: ➡ Regional and Global Efforts to End Child Marriage and Early Unions 📆 November 5, 2024, 5:30 - 8:30 pm (Bogotá time) 📍 Hotel Wyndham, Bogotá ➡ Satellite Event: Ending Female Genital Mutilation Globally 📆 November 6, 2024, 9:00-10:30 am (Bogotá time) 📍 Hotel Tequendama, Bogotá ➡ Satellite Event of Movimiento de Valientes Latin America & the Caribbean: Survivors and Allies’ Demands for the Bogotá Call to Action to Eradicate Sexual Violence Against Children 📆 November 6, 2024, 2 pm (Bogotá time) 📍 Hotel Hilton Corferias, Bogotá Learn more about the events and register now: https://buff.ly/3BWACah #EndViolenceAgainstChildren #ChildrensRights #HumanRights #ColombiaEvents

In just a few short hours Equality Now’s newest Program Officer for North America, Anastasia Law, will deliver testimony during the public hearing on Bill 25-955, the “Child Marriage Prohibition Amendment Act of 2024.” The Bill will remove the parental consent exception to the minimum age of marriage in the District of Colombia, thus protecting girls and adolescents from the devastating consequences of child marriage which  include abuse, limitations to education, lack of financial independence, early pregnancy, and loss of bodily autonomy. While we’ll be there live, we’re counting on you to take action by telling your legislators to end Child Marriage today. Click on the link below: https://lnkd.in/eyrTP78v

Catch up on the latest Equality Now news and insights from across the world this week: ➡️Gender pay gap in the U.S. widens for the first time in 20 years Read: https://buff.ly/3BSO5zJ ➡️Reflections on UNGA79 and the Summit of the Future Read: https://buff.ly/3YsmKwZ ➡️Colombia Has a Key Opportunity to End Child Marriage and Early Unions and Protect Girls Read: https://buff.ly/4dQAIxg ➡️Gambia Mission: Lessons Learnt Read: https://buff.ly/3A5Si2A ➡️5 things you need to know about child marriage Read: https://buff.ly/3Yup0nF

💪🌍Data in history has changed the face of inequality in Africa, and we must use this to break ceilings and challenge norms that have influenced negative work practices and norms to this day. We are happy to be associated with the #GELC Campaign run by IAWL ~ Institute for African Women in Law, a data-driven empirical campaign in Africa. The enriching panel discussion focused on Promoting Gender Equality in the Legal Profession across Africa. In the words of Judy Gitau, Africa's Regional Coordinator at the panel: “To tackle gender inequity and workplace harassment, operational policies and frameworks in the workplace must bear in mind the biases (both implicit & explicit) that influence and shape employees." 📌 An equitable workspace should espouse the following principles: 📌Equal opportunities for advancement through transparent promotion policies 📌Mentorship and guidance frameworks 📌Intentionality in addressing and tackling biases 📌Promoting Gender Equality in the Legal Profession across Africa panel at the PALU Conference- Addis Ababa, Ethiopia #SayNotoSexualHarrassment #HerLeadershipCounts #YW4A

🌟 Looking back to September we have to say it was a success! In collaboration with diverse stakeholders including community leaders, survivors, champions and government officials, we continue to advance efforts to safeguard Gambia’s anti-FGM law and to #EndFGM for good. We had a good mission to Banjul which served as a powerful reminder of the impact of collective action marking a significant step towards ending FGM and protecting the future of millions of girls and women in #TheGambia. Together, we will ensure a future free from FGM. Read more: https://buff.ly/4f8KZWI

Today we’re launching our latest #ERA factsheet that outlines Resolution 601 passed by the American Bar Association which urges the entire legal community as well as all federal, state, local, territorial, and tribal governments to support implementation of the Equal Rights Amendment to the US Constitution! Download our ERA ABA Resolution factsheet here: https://buff.ly/3Y740C4 For more factsheets about how the ERA can provide protections against #FGM, #ChildMarriage, #GenderBasedViolence, and other issues impacting women and girls in the US visit: https://buff.ly/3Y7GlRO Read the full Resolution here: https://buff.ly/3YgwU2K

Here's your round-up of #WhatsOn and you'll find our team protecting and promoting the rights of women and girls across the world this week ⬇ 📍14th - 18th October 2024: The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights will convene the 81st Ordinary Session in Banjul, Gambia. Later this week we’ll be sharing resources from the #ACHPR session including our statement to the Commission, interventions on the activity reports of the special rapporteur, and shadow reports on #Ethiopia and #BurkinaFaso. As part of #ACHPR, you can find our team at: ➡ 14th October 2024: Africa Family Law Network Panel The Africa Family Law Network will host a panel session, feat. Deborah Nyokabi, Equality Now’s Program Officer, on how #SGBV in the family negatively impacts access to education for women and children across #Africa, and offers a platform to advocate for the right to quality education for women and girls to help unlock their potential and engage in the labor market. ➡ 17th October 2024: Commemoration of the 25th Anniversary of the Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa (#SRRWA) On its 25th anniversary, the Mechanism of the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa (SRRWA) will celebrate the milestones and achievements of the SRRWA in safeguarding and promoting women's rights, notably adopting the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (#MaputoProtocol) within five years of its inception. --- 📍15th- 19th October 2024, Pan African Lawyers Union (Official) Conference:  Promoting Gender Equality in the Legal Profession across African Women in Law, Addis Ababa- Ethiopia. As part of #PALU, you can find our team at: ➡ 15th October 2024, as part of the Gender Equality in Law Campaign (GELC), Equality Now’s Africa Regional Coordinator, Judy Gitau, and Legal Program Officer, Nina Masore will be at the Regional Consultative and Stakeholder Engagement with the African Union. On 18th October at a high-level panel, Judy Gitau, will be sharing Equality Now’s experiences in policy and legal reforms in the advancement of the rights of women. --- 📍17th October 2024: FGM/C in South Asia: Voices from Communities - Online Webinar Equality Now and WeSpeakOut are hosting a webinar to explore the ongoing work and challenges in preventing and responding to female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) in South Asian countries. The webinar will highlight positive shifts and opportunities for expanding the narrative toward ending #FGM/C, with a focus on community engagement and advocacy. Register at: https://lnkd.in/eCKVvDyc If you'll be at #ACHPR or #PALU and would like to connect, comment below to get in touch with our team. #GenderEquality #GenderEqualityEvents #OnlineEvents

Across the world, the harmful practice of child marriage continues, with 640 million women and girls worldwide who were married before their 18th birthday. As the world marks #InternationalDayOfTheGirlChild, we launched three new resources on child marriage, its causes and consequences, and the legal and policy frameworks required to protect girls worldwide. ➡️ Addressing Child, Early, and Forced Marriage in Eurasia. Our latest report delves into the underlying causes, ramifications, legal and policy frameworks, and potential intervention strategies to address the practice in seven Eurasian countries. We found that in addition to deep-rooted gender inequality, a combination of cultural, religious, social, and economic factors, exacerbated by inadequate legal frameworks, limited data, underreporting, and enforcement gaps, contribute to the continued practice of child, early and forced marriage in the region.  Read now at: https://lnkd.in/eVAefNrd ➡️ Ending Child, Early, and Forced Marriages and Unions in Argentina: Legal and Policy Frameworks. In collaboration with our partner CLADEM , we examined the legal and policy frameworks surrounding child, early, and forced marriages and unions (CEFMU) in Argentina. It highlights gaps in current laws, particularly the provisions allowing minors to marry with parental or judicial consent, and calls for reforms to protect girls and adolescents. Read now at: https://lnkd.in/e2hur34n ➡️ Ending Child, Early, and Forced Marriages and Unions in Colombia. Our policy brief on Colombia advocates for essential reforms to combat child, early, and forced marriage and unions (CEFMU) in the country. Despite global efforts, CEFMU remains prevalent in Latin America and the Caribbean, with Colombia ranking 20th worldwide in early marriages and unions for girls under 15. Deeply ingrained social and gender norms sustain this issue, which often goes unrecognized. Read now at: https://lnkd.in/eM2hU-wj Equality Now has been actively advocating for the eradication of harmful practices, including child marriage, for the past three decades. Explore all our resources on the issue on our website: https://lnkd.in/eh-UkDa9 📷 :  Daro Sulakauri #18NoExceptions #EndChildMarriage #ChildMarriage #WomensRights #HumanRights #LegalRights #LegalReform #LAC #GenderEquality #IDGC #DayOfTheGirl