Almost everywhere around the world women and girls are denied human rights simply because of their gender. Wining rights for women/girls is a constant fight in changing laws and policies to ensure women can own property, vote, run for office, get paid fair wages, make decisions on their own body, attend school and live free from violence (such as domestic violence, sexual assault and harmful practices like genital mutilation). Yes this still happens!
International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender equality and to stand in solidarity with women’s suffrage around the world.
Here are some women’s organizations devoted to protecting women and supporting women’s rights.
NOW is the largest feminist organization in the US. NOW’s goal has been to take action to bring about equality for all women. The national Organization for Women is dedicated to multi-issues and multi-strategy approach to women’s rights.
Women for Women International Help women in countries affected by war and conflict. They serve women in 8 countries offer support, tools and access to life-changing skills to move from crisis and poverty to stability and economic self-sufficiency.
ACLU continues to fight to protect rights for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and rollbacks against the civil rights protections for women, people of color and LGBTQ individuals. Challenges executive actions which target individuals on the basis of religion and national origin. As well as opposing repeal of Affordable Care Act, which would cause up to 32 million people to lose health insurance coverage, stripe women of critical maternity and newborn care, preventative screenings and contraceptive coverage; remove antidiscrimination protections for LGBT people and risk bringing back sex discriminatory insurance pricings, including charging domestic violence victims more because of the abuse they experience.
Planned Parenthood was founded over 100 years ago so women have the right to access information and care they need to live healthy lives. PPAF fights for access to affordable birth control, keeping abortion legal and therefore safe, sex education, as well as STD-and unplanned pregnancy-prevention.
Want to do more than just donate, here are some organizations that empower women.
Emerge America and She Should Run assists, educates and inspires women to run for public office.
The United State of Women gives you tools to get involved by connecting you with the organizations that are championing the causes you care about.
Live Your Dream is an online volunteer and activist network offering you flexible action opportunities to help improve the lives of women and girls. They provide advocacy to spread awareness for causes like access to education, empowering girls, and ending violence against women.
