We are rising for one day, but organizations around the world work every day for change. Here are some groups that work on a local, cultural, national, or international level. Continue to rise by donating your time, skills, or funds to one of these groups.
This is only a small selection of people working to end violence against women and girls. If you are familiar with other organizations, please mention them (with links) in the comments.
Men Stopping Violence
http://www.menstoppingviolence.org/
Men Stopping Violence was founded in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, in 1982. MSV works locally, nationally and internationally to dismantle belief systems, social structures and institutional practices that oppress women and children and dehumanize men themselves. We look to the violence against women’s movement to keep the reality of the problem and the vision of the solution before us. We believe that all forms of oppression are interconnected. Social justice work in the areas of race, class, gender, age and sexual orientation are all critical to ending violence against women.
.
UNiTE to End Violence against Women
http://www.un.org/en/women/endviolence/about.shtml
Launched in 2008, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign is a multi-year effort aimed at preventing and eliminating violence against women and girls in all parts of the world. UNiTE calls on governments, civil society, women’s organizations, young people, the private sector, the media and the entire UN system to join forces in addressing the global pandemic of violence against women and girls.
.
Afghan Women’s Mission
http://www.afghanwomensmission.org/
The Afghan Women’s Mission works closely with RAWA to support health, educational, and other programs for Afghan women. The Afghan Women’s Mission was founded in January 2000 by a small group of Americans to support the humanitarian and political work of RAWA. Projects include many programs run by Afghan women including Malalai Clinic, schools, orphanages, agricultural programs, demonstrations and functions in support of women’s and human rights. They are an all-volunteer organization based in the United States. Their focus is on health care, education and empowerment, and awareness.
.
Bridges: Domestic and Sexual Violence Support
Bridges is a nonprofit organization in southern New Hampshire, USA. It provides free and confidential services to victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, teen dating violence, child sexual abuse, elder abuse, stalking, and harassment. They provide crisis intervention, emergency shelter, court advocacy, support groups, and education and outreach to both women and men.
Bridges is supported by the United Way and is a member of the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.
.
Buy Art Not People
Buy Art Not People is made of artists and activists who seek to raise awareness and resources to combat human trafficking while shaping culture through art. The organization supports the Not For Sale Campaign’s approach of open-source activism, that individuals and groups should design their own creative solutions wherever they live. This allows modern abolitionists to effectively leverage social power while collaborating with others to exchange ideas and share resources. Buy Art Not People is one expression of that.
.
Camfed
Since 1993, Camfed has educated girls and supported young women to help tackle poverty in rural communities in Ghana, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Investing in girls and women is a proven way to improve the health and wealth of a whole nation.In sub-Saharan Africa, 24 million girls can’t afford to go to school. A girl may marry as young as 13 and has a one in 22 chance of dying in childbirth. One in six of her children will die before the age of five. Research shows if you educate a girl she’ll earn up to 25% more and reinvest 90% in her family,be three times less likely to become HIV-positive, and have fewer, healthier children who are 40% more likely to live past the age of five.
.
RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network)
RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization and was named one of “America’s 100 Best Charities” by Worth magazine. RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE and online.rainn.org) in partnership with more than 1,100 local rape crisis centers across the country and operates the DoD Safe Helpline for the Department of Defense. RAINN also carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help victims and ensure that rapists are brought to justice.
.
The Women’s Center of Tarrant County
http://www.womenscentertc.org/
This organization serves Tarrant County, Texas, USA – the region surrounding Fort Worth, TX. Every year almost 100,000 women, men and children of all ages, ethnic and economic backgrounds are served by The Women’s Center. They seek hope, emotional healing, solutions to family crises, and help finding a job or a path to a better life. The serious problems they bring are devastating – rape and child sexual abuse, unemployment, wages too low to keep a family together, deep depression, and desperate situations created by family violence and poverty.
.
Victim Support
http://www.victimsupport.org.uk/
Victim Support is the independent charity for victims and witnesses of crime in England and Wales. They were set up over 38 years ago and have grown to become the oldest and largest victims’ organisation in the world. Every year, they contact over 1.5 million people after a crime to offer our help. They depend on thousands of specially-trained volunteers to deliver our services and although they work closely with the police and other parts of the criminal justice system, they are an independent charity.
.
Daughters of Eve
Daughters of Eve is a non profit organisation in the United Kingdom that works to protect girls and young women who are at risk from female genital mutilation (FGM). By raising awareness about FGM and sign-posting support services they aim to help people who are affected by FGM and ultimately help bring an end to this practice. Their wider work is to advance and protect the physical, mental, sexual and reproductive health rights of young people from female genital mutilation practicing communities. They recognise that FGM occurs in the context of wider harmful practices and that young people often have many different problems. They take a holistic approach, offering advice and support to help young people in as many ways as we can.
.
Feminist Majority
http://www.feminist.org/welcome/index.html
The Feminist Majority Foundation (FMF), which was founded in 1987 in the United States, is a cutting edge organization dedicated to women’s equality, reproductive health, and non-violence. In all spheres, FMF utilizes research and action to empower women economically, socially, and politically. The organization believes that feminists – both women and men, girls and boys – are the majority, but this majority must be empowered.
.
GORD
(Note: their website is in Croatian) GORD was established by ten founders that have previously received training in associations OCI – Osijek and the Center for Peace in Osijek. Registration is 19.02.2002. non-governmental, non-profit and non-partisan civil society organizations that promote human rights, local development and work toward strengthening the marginalized, vulnerable and / or socially excluded groups to take an active role in all aspects of social life. The organization of their activity from the start based on the principles of non-violence, transparency and equality.
.
House of Ruth
http://www.hruth.org/default.asp
Based in Maryland, United States, the House Of Ruth Maryland leads the fight to end violence against women and their children by confronting the attitudes, behaviors and systems that perpetuate it, and by providing victims with the services necessary to rebuild their lives safely and free of fear. Their vision is that one day, every woman in Maryland will be safe in her own home.
.
IOM – Istanbul
Established in 1951, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is the principal intergovernmental organization in the field of migration. IOM Turkey was established in 1991 in the aftermath of the first Gulf War. IOM Turkey’s primary objective is to support the Turkish Government’s efforts to establish an effective, human rights oriented approach to Turkey’s regional migration challenges in order to combat irregular migration and illegal trafficking in human beings. IOM Turkey operates in areas of emergency refugee assistance, assisted voluntary return and almost every major aspect of migration management, including but not limited to promoting legal migration, migrant health and harnessing remittances.
.
Narika
Narika, meaning “of women,” is a registered nonprofit that serves and represents domestic violence survivors who are from the South Asian countries and diasporas of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tibet, Fiji, Trinidad, Mauritius, and Maldives. Narika promotes the empowerment of South Asian women to confront and overcome the cycles of domestic violence and exploitation. They work to build a movement to end violence against women and to actively support women’s rights as human rights. Narika’s philosophy relies on incorporating cultural affinities, language capabilities, and practices to help clients lead safe and healthy lives.
.
Pakistan Insitute of Labour Education and Research
Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER), established in 1982, is a not-for-profit, non-government, citizen sector organization engaged in research, training and advocacy in the areas of labour rights and labour legislation, social justice and human development, and regional solidarity and peace. PILER envisions a just and equitable society where fundamental rights of people are respected, ensured and guaranteed. In line with achieving its mission, PILER aims to promote a democratic and effective labour movement enabling people to exercise their core rights.
.
Raksha
Raksha — meaning “protection” in several South Asian languages — is a Georgia-based nonprofit organization for the South Asian Community. Raksha’s mission is to promote a stronger and healthier South Asian community through confidential support services, education, and advocacy. Guided by values of consensus in decision-making, diversity in leadership, and the dignity and worth of every individual, Raksha strives to empower and serve the South Asian community.
.
Women Living Under Muslim Laws
http://www.wluml.org/node/5408
Women Living Under Muslim Laws is an international solidarity network that provides information, support and a collective space for women whose lives are shaped, conditioned or governed by laws and customs said to derive from Islam. For more than two decades WLUML has linked individual women and organisations. It now extends to more than 70 countries ranging from South Africa to Uzbekistan, Senegal to Indonesia and Brazil to France. The network aims to strengthen women’s individual and collective struggles for equality and their rights, especially in Muslim contexts.
.
Zacharias sexual abuse center
Based in Illinois, United States, Zacharias Center seeks to provide quality, comprehensive, client-centered services to survivors of sexual assault and abuse. These services are provided in partnership with the survivor in the spirit of equality, free from judgment or oppression. Zacharias Center’s services are free and are available to all survivors regardless of race, gender, language, ability, sexual orientation, or religion. Zacharias Center seeks to be an active presence in the community to speak up in support of and in partnership with all survivors of sexual violence. Zacharias Center provides services to the community at large and to other professionals and service providers to enhance the understanding of the impact of sexual violence on everyone.
One Billion Rising in Second Life 2014 