We have helped make abstract legal rights a reality for poor women around the world by enabling them to access legal rights and to reform the legal system to ensure it respects their rights and provides redress for violence, discrimination and abuse.
Many women are now able to challenge violence and discrimination, including cultural beliefs and practices which can prevent their access to justice.
For example, our partner in Bangladesh, Nagorik Uddyog (Citizen's Initiative) has supported 10,000 rural women to bring cases to court by transforming the traditional village court system.
In Tanzania, where lawyers are scarce and expensive, we supported the Women's Legal Aid Centre. The Centre has established mobile legal units providing advice which have enabled 40,000 grassroots women to see a lawyer. Refugee camps in Tanzania have seen escalating levels of sexual and gender based violence. The Centre trains refugee women as paralegals who provide advice and counselling for women survivors of sexual violence. The Centre has also set up a popular radio programme where listeners learn about their legal rights and what to do when these rights are denied.