GAATW Logo

Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women

Human Rights
at home, abroad and on the way...

GAATW Logo

Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women

Human Rights
at home, abroad and on the way...

Realising Rights

Groups of marginalized and vulnerable women are organising to address their own problems and promote their own rights and needs. The Realising Rights Programme is one way GAATW supports the work of self-organised groups (SOGs) and their allies in the Alliance.

‘Self-organised group’ describes women with direct experience of the issue they’re working on. For example, sex workers organisation comprised of sex workers and survivors of trafficking organisations directed by survivors of trafficking. These groups and their ‘members’ are diverse – migrants, sex workers, domestic workers, trafficked women, racialised women, poor women. Space and opportunity are created through coming together. Women can share experiences, struggles, ideas for change, and create meaningful and supportive relationships.

GAATW-IS believes the knowledge, experiences, voices, and hopes of these women must be central to any work that we do on trafficking, migration, and women’s rights. We hope through this programme to have strong self-organized members working for social change and contributing to GAATW’s understanding of the issues.

The vision of the Realising Rights Programme is to have strong self-organized members that are able to work for social change and to contribute to civil society discourses on women's rights and empowerment.

ABOUT THE PROGRAMME

Objective

The objective of the Realising Rights programme is to build the capacity and empower groups through trainings, mutual learning opportunities, and incorporating their voices and experiences into international debate.

History of the Programme

ACTIVITIES

Self-help Health Training

Video Advocacy, “Documenting our Lives” project
“Documenting our Lives” (2001-2004) was a continuation of GAATW’s commitment and solidarity with the struggle of women within the informal economy for social, political and legal rights.
The project aimed to strengthen the self-representation efforts of the participants and recognised the advocacy work of the self-organised groups. Training in the use of handheld video cameras was organised for the entire group after which the groups themselves sought help from local film makers and enhanced their skills. This was also an important aspect of the project. The fact that small self-organised groups do work in solidarity with many local groups and in several instances engage in the larger movements of social justice, was recognised and encouraged. In late 2002, GAATW International Secretariat organised Partners in Change, a conference which brought together sex workers, domestic workers, factory workers, and formerly trafficked persons who have formed groups.

Social Enterprises – ISD, STP
Getting Our Voices Heard (synopsis of the 2nd annual consultation with SOGs, 2006)
Our Bodies (and minds), Our Selves (synopsis of the 1st annual consultation with SOGs, 2005)


WHO WE ARE

SOG Members List (Click on the names of the organisations below to read more about their work and contact information) PUBLICATIONS
  • Respect & Relevance, GAATW Report 2007
  • Speak Out, Take Action (Sex Worker’s organisations in Bangladesh, Cambodia & India raise their voices against police brutality, GAATW 2004)
  • “Partners in Change” Conference (2002) – stories of women’s collectives & report
  • Advocacy video project on Overcharging - IMW's say NO to Overcharging


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