strategic plan women for a better world:

Context and definition of the plan

The Strategic Plan Women for a Better World:

Is an initiative originated in the Annual Meetings of Women for a Better World, Africa-Spain which started in 2006

Strives to be a technical and programmatic document which compiles the know-how and experience gathered in the meetings

Seeks to define the objectives of a future Organisation of Women for a Better World

Underlying principles of the Plan

Human Rights and full citizenship of women

Gender equality: no discrimination & empowerment

Social leadership of women’s networks and organisations

Gender mainstreaming in public policies

Respect for cultural diversity

The right of all women to a life free of violence

The objective of the plan

To promote gender equality and the empowerment of women as a strategy towards combatting poverty, lack of opportunities, gender-based violence and any other type of violation of women’s human rights

The areas of action for the plan

Women’s political and social participation

Economic development and income generation

Sexual and reproductive rights

Education

area Women’s Political and Social Participation

Objective of the area of women’s political and social participation

To contribute towards African women’s full participation in society and politics at all levels of decision-making, in national, regional and/ or continental fora, by promoting women’s leadership and strengthening of existing gender equality mechanisms

Support women’s organisations presence and active participation in important regional and internationla events

Financing and technical support for African women’s organisations

Gender training for political decision-makers and leadership training for young women

Exchange of experiences and alliances forged with civil society, public entities and international cooperation organisations

Promotion of awareness-raising and training campaigns with a gender focus for national and community leaders, women leaders in particular

StrategicLine 1 Promotion of women’s social

and political leadership

Strengthening existing gender equality mechanisms

Promotion of positive action to facilitate women’s insertion in, and advancement within the various levels of the public administration.Legislation review to address gender issues with regard to women’s full citizenship, gender equality, non discrimination and violence against womenPromotion of State initiatives on education for citizenship to promotewomen’s full social and political participation following the equality and non-discriminatory principles.Strengthen gender aware statistics and information systems Culturally pertinent training and awareness-raising campaigns in the area of violence against women directed at civil servants in the Ministries of Health, Justice, the Home Office and Education.

Gender mainstreaming in African public policies

StrategicLine 2

Cross-cutting axis: Women and Peace-building

Promote greater and strengthened participation of women’s organisations in the decision-making arenas in emergency situations, humanitarian aid, and peace-building

Provide support and coordination between State agents, cooperation agencies, and civil society to implement Resolution 1820

Support the Spanish Cooperation plan: “Women and Building Peace”

Economic Development and Income Generation

area

Objective of the area of economic development and income generation

To promote the economic rights of African women through their access to, use and control of resources, strengthening of their skills and broadening of their business, association and economic opportunities

StrategicLine 1 Rural Development

and Food Security

Support for national and regional gender-aware poverty reduction strategies and policies

Support for productive initiatives in agriculture targeted at women

Support for gender-aware projects in food security, and water and sanitation

Support for legal reforms (and their implementation) designed at ensuring women’s use, access and ownership of land

Promotion of training for women in agricultural management, access to technology and trading networks

Promotion of mechanisms for women to participate in decision-making processes in the area of natural resources management, the environment and climate change

StrategicLine 2 Economic Growth and strengthening

of business-women’s Initiatives

Support for women’s initiatives in renewable energy

Support for awareness-raising campaigns on workers’ rights and the rights of women working in the informal sector

Promotion of positive action to ensure access to credits for women working in the informal sector

Promotion of gender-aware work and training programmes in traditional sectors such as agriculture, tourism and building

Promotion of accountability mechanisms for networks and financial institutions offering services to women

Forging of alliances with businesses to provide channels of distribution, both in African and European markets, for goods and services produced by women

StrategicLine 3 Development

and Migration

Support for gender-focused programmes and projects of co-development with particular focus on conditions of women returnees and investment of remittances in productive activities for women

Promotion of research into gender, migration and development

Promotion of awareness-raising programmes in origine countries to prevent trafficking for labour and sexual exploitation

Promotion of the revision of the penal code to include measures designed to penalise the trafficking of human beings

Sexual and Reproductive Rights

area

Objective of the Area of Sexual and Reproductive Rights

To promote the full exercise of African women sexual and reproductive rights through the strengthening of health services, awareness-raising and preventive measures, designed in a race, gender and age aware manner

StrategicLine 1

Promotion of maternal and perinatal health through quality obstetric services

Promotion of quality family plannning services, accessible and culturally pertinent

Promotion of preventive measures and care services for HIV-AIDS, and STD

Strenghtening or creation of specialised units for gender-based violence victims

Promotion of training of health personnel in sexual and reproductive healthcare

Promotion of preventive and health care services for cervical cancer

Promotion of coordination between health systems and women’s organisations to train midwives

Sexual and reproductive health care

StrategicLine 2 Sexual and

Reproductive Rights

Promotion of integral sexual education programs in the following areas: gender violence, prevention of HIV/AIDS and STD, female genital mutilation and family planning

Support for culturally pertinent awareness-raising campaigns in the area of sexual and reproductive health for young people and teenagers

Support for the application of the existing legislation on sexual and reproductive rights in national public policies

Educationarea

Objective of the Area of Education

Mainstream gender into the African education systems with the aim of improving retention and access of girls and women, as well as to improve the overall quality of education

StrategicLine 1 Equal Access

to Education

To promote educational policies to ensure access, permanence and finalisation of the full education process for women and girls at all educational levels

To promote positive action to ensure access and permanence of women and girls from vulnerable groups (pregnant, minority groups, disabled, etc)

Promotion of multi-cultural and plurilingual gender-aware education programs

Promotion of awareness-rasing programmes on the rights of girls to education (directed at teachers and parents)

StrategicLine 2 Erradication of illiteracy

Support for literacy programmes and campaigns for women with a multi-cultural focus

Support for women’s organisations involved in literacy campaigns with an integral focus on women’s human rights

StrategicLine 3 Women’s access to technical

and vocational training

Promotion of positive action and policies designed to produce curricular change to facilitate women’s access to non-traditional professions

Support for gender-aware vocational training for women, including access to new technologies, and training in agricultural techniques, business management, marketing etc

Support for educational programmes and training for unemployed women

StrategicLine 4 Non-sexist Education

Support for non-sexist programmes and educational materials

Design of culturally pertinent sexual and reproductive education programmes with emphasis on preventing unwanted pregnancies, HIV/Aids and STDs, violence against women and access to contraception

Research to inform changes in the curriculum to include a gender focus at the University level, in textbooks, and in teachers’ training

Design positive action measures to increase the number of female teachers

Promotion of awareness-raising campaigns and training programs for teachers in the area of non-sexist education

For more information on the Plan, you can consult the full document at:

http://planestrategico.reddemujeresporunmundomejor.org/