Local women-focused CSOs know the context, challenges, and entry points for gender-sensitive humanitarian interventions. They work on the ground, day in and day out, with years of expertise in community-specific issues. They know how and when to take action, and they can do so in a timely, culturally-relevant manner.
But local women-focused CSOs are unsung heroes of GBV response. When emergencies strike, their power and capacities are overlooked and underfunded — a massive missed opportunity to invest in solutions that actually work for girls and women.
WOREC works for the protection and promotion of human rights, including preventing the causes and consequences of violence against women. Partnering with community organizations and networks, WOREC empowers women to become advocates for ending GBV through capacity-building initiatives, support services, and awareness campaigns.
Each year, WOREC reaches 200 thousand women through programs that address violence against women, livelihoods, and safe migration, and they support more than 400 survivors of GBV through safe shelter, psychosocial counseling, medical and legal support.
In last 28 years, WOREC has successfully facilitated the establishment of survivor-led organizations, influenced national policy against trafficking, domestic and sexual violence, safe abortion, property rights and more.
“Women-focused CSOs are powerful agents of change to address GBV in humanitarian settings because they are trusted community partners having support mechanisms and experience in dealing with survivors of GBV and sexual violence. They carry knowledge on socio-cultural situation, structures and resources available, and are capable of coordination in disaster preparedness, management and emergency response following gender-sensitive approaches.” –Women’s Rehabilitation Center