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International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women 2007
To commemorate the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Ashoka recognizes the role of Ashoka Fellows who are empowering women to defend their human rights and become full economic and political participants in their societies.
From microlending programs and women’s shelters to sex education and legal system reform (often in countries where such initiatives are not the norm), these Ashoka Fellows are overcoming the obstacles that prevent women from becoming fully engaged citizens and make them vulnerable to violence and abuse. Ashoka celebrates the impact of their efforts and relentless commitment to creating a more just and prosperous world for all.
Atuki Turner, UgandaMifumi Project
In a country where more than forty percent of women experience domestic violence, Atuki’s Mifumi Project gives them the opportunity to create better lives for themselves and their families. Through a multi-pronged approach of micro-lending, pan-African campaigns, and educational outreach programs, her work helps women become more independent and turns the violence into a visible community challenge rather than private suffering. Elements of her program are being replicated and scaled in more than 16 countries throughout Africa. Profile ►
Carlos Eduardo da Silva Zuma, Brazil
Instituto NOOS
By identifying judges who are sensitive to the issue of family violence, Carlos’ Instituto NOOS offers violent offenders the opportunity to choose rehabilitation over traditional sanctions. Traditional punishments — such as fines and imprisonment — often put families of the offenders under great financial stress, often punishing victims of abuse more than the offenders. His rehabilitation program keeps the primary wage earner in the household and aims not just to serve justice but to heal the individual and the family as a whole. Profile ►
Nebahat Akkoc, TurkeyKA-MER
In Anatolia, where more than half of women endure abuse from male family members, Nebahat works within the local culture and language to break down barriers of inequality and abuse. KA-MER’s holistic approach provides a range services for women such as counseling, an emergency hotline and legal advice, and works with male family members to encourage acceptance of women as valuable citizens. Additionally, Nebahat runs an on-site childcare facility and restaurant that provide employment opportunities and steady revenue to continue expansion of KA-MER’s services. Profile ►
Sompop Jantraka, Thailand
Development and Educational Programme for Daughters and Communities
Sompop is stopping the abuse of sex workers before it starts — by intervening with families before they sell their daughters into prostitution. In many areas of Southeast Asia where prostitution "recruitment" has become pervasive as a way of averting family financial crisis, the Development and Educational Program for Daughters and Communities is creating a network of community members to identify these vulnerable families. Originally founded in Thailand, DEPDC’s comprehensive vocational training and mentorship initiatives now inspire girls and families throughout Southeast Asia to seek alternative ways to earn a meaningful livelihood. Profile ►
Casa de las Mercedes
A former sex worker, Claudia recognized the lack of government support for these women in Mexico and founded Case de las Mercedes to offer an alternative to prostitution. Her organization provides comprehensive services — including vocational training, room and board, and sex education — to help women reconstruct their self-images to withstand pressures that lead to addiction and exploitation. These women choose better lives for themselves and their children, preventing the cycle of violence from being passed to the next generation. Profile ►