Network Members in Asia
Bangladesh
Arakan Rohingya National Organisation (ARNO)
WPD Partner
Bangladesh National Women Lawyers’ Association (BNWLA)
Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association (BNWLA) is a human rights organization engaging themselves with proactive individuals and institutions for establishing rule of law and gender equality.
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Iraq
Free Yezidi Foundation (FYF)
WPD Partner
FYF provides humanitarian services for Yezidi survivors and for Yezidi women and children, with a special focus on trauma recovery and psychological services, economic empowerment, community reintegration, and education.
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Iraqi Alamal Association
Iraqi Al-Amal Association is a non-political, non-sectarian and non profit association of volunteers actively engaged in projects for the benefit and well being of the Iraqi population regardless of race, gender and political or religious affiliation.
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Nepal
Women for Human Rights (WHR)
WPD Partner
Works for socio-cultural, economic and political rights of single women of Nepal. WHR strives to create a just and equitable society where there will be “no discrimination on the basis of marital status”.
India
The Guild for Service & SANWED
WPD Partner
The South Asian Network for Widows Empowerment in Development (SANWED) is a network of organizations and individuals working for the most deprived among the underprivileged, the widows.
Website
Mahatma Phule Samaj Seva Mandal
Grassroots social development organisation based in Maharashtra, India. One of its most significant initiatives is the campaign to eliminate discriminatory widowhood practices.
The movement began after the organisation’s President, Pramod Zinjade, witnessed a deeply disturbing incident following the death of one of his colleagues. The deceased man’s wife was forcibly stripped of her jewellery, her forehead mark (kumkum) was wiped off against her will, and she was immediately subjected to discriminatory widowhood customs. This experience profoundly affected him and inspired him to dedicate himself to ending these inhumane practices.
To demonstrate his commitment, Mr. Zinjade executed a notarised affidavit declaring that after his own death, no one should force his wife to remove her mangalsutra, bangles, toe rings, or forehead mark, or subject her to any widowhood rituals or discrimination. The affidavit affirms that every woman has the right to live with dignity and that such practices violate fundamental human rights.
This initiative inspired the Herwad Pattern, under which the village of Herwad passed a Gram Sabha resolution rejecting discriminatory widowhood practices. In 2022, the Government of Maharashtra recognised this model and issued a circular encouraging Gram Panchayats across the state to adopt similar resolutions and establish local monitoring committees. The campaign has also received wider recognition.
Today, the campaign continues to work towards legal reform, social awareness, and the complete elimination of discriminatory widowhood practices, while promoting dignity, equality, and human rights for every woman.
Sri Lanka
Association of War Affected Women (AWAW)
WPD Partner
The Association of War Affected Women was established in the year 2000 to create a space for war affected women, specifically mothers and wives, of those who are missing to come together across the divide to work for peace.
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Pakistan
Aurat Foundation
WPD Partner
The Aurat Foundation facilitates and strengthens civil society groups and networks to promote trust and collaboration among citizens to mobilize public pressure for women’s empowerment in the country.
Website
Sewa Development Trust Sindh (STDS)
STDS has special consultative status with United Nations Economic & Social Council UN ECOSOC since 2014.
Promotes the rights of young widows
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