Womankind Worldwide’s new policy briefing - Breaking the Silence: Ending online violence and abuse against women’s rights activists  - which launched today on International Women’s Human Rights Defenders Day (29th November 2018). A policy briefing shedding light on the reality of online violence and abuse for women right’s activists – and the crucial need to address it in any pursuit for gender equality.

Online violence & abuse is a global issue & affects all women – including women’s rights activists. This #16Days, join the call to #BreakTheSilence & end violence against women & girls online. Read @woman_kind’s latest briefing & share to show your solidarity http://bit.ly/WKBreaktheSilence
 ​

Paperboat were delighted to return to Liberia to deliver a two day training on implementing effective GBV prevention and response services for Kvinna till Kvinna partner organisations.  

Amnesty’s historic campaign Write for Rights is open until end of December. Amnesty run this campaign every year to show solidarity with 12 incredible women human rights defenders standing up against violence, for LGBTI rights, against corporate power and state repression. By taking part in Write for Rights you’ll join others demanding justice for Marielle Franco, a black lesbian councillor who worked tirelessly to support the most marginalised in Rio de Janeiro, she was killed on 14th March 2018 and no one has been charged for her murder. You will stand side by side with Pavitri Manjhi who is standing up to big companies seeking to remover her Adivasi community from their ancestral land. You can read about all the women involved and their cases here.

Paperboat were delighted to host a high level stakeholders event in Rwanda last week, presenting the findings of their baseline study and showcasing the work of Kvinna till Kvinna's chosen women's rights projects. Over the next two years Kvinna till Kvinna will be supporting AKWOS, Haguruka, Reseau des Femmes, Rwandan Women's Network, UNABU with their women's rights and empowerment work. 

Sadly as we sit here today celebrating International Women's day,  around the world more countries than for a generation are experiencing violent conflict. Whilst women suffer greatly from the impact of war, they are often excluded from official peace processes, which make the examples of women peacebuilders all the more remarkable.  As we reflect on this year's International Women's day theme of #PressforProgress in celebration of women's  achievements, we encourage you to read International Alert's 7 women peace builders you should know. This incredible group of women are working to support peace against the odds. 

Last week, Frances and Rosie visited Kigali to deliver a two day women's economic empowerment (WEE) workshop for Kvinna till Kvinna country teams from Rwanda, DRC and Liberia. The workshop helped participants develop their understanding and approach to WEE and provided tools to assist Kvinna till Kvinna in planning their WEE programmes and activities. The training was part of an ongoing action research study looking at the development of Kvinna till Kvinna's work in this area and how it fits with other strands of their work. Paperboat are helping Kvinna till Kvinna develop guiding principles for WEE and supporting them to identify their niche and added value. The visit was an inspiring and productive process. It is a privilege to support Kvinna till Kvinna as they navigate and develop this exciting area of work.