What we do
Core focus:
Gender Concerns works to promote women as agents for change and development. GCI's core focus is capacity building, lobbying and advocacy work, facilitating training and supporting women's organisations and supporting women in civil society organisations efforts especially in fragile states to improve the (political, legal, social and economic) position of women. Gender Concerns International has highlighted the gender dimension of current conflicts and the key role of women as agents of change, campaigning for women’s full integration into peace talks and governance strategies.
Focus countries:
In recent years GCI's focus has been on Afghanistan and its neighbouring countries. Since the Arab Spring, the organisation has been very active in Egypt, Tunisia and Yemen. Gender Concerns initiated the 'Alert 2011' Campaign to highlight inclusive governance and female leadership in these emerging democracies. This campaign was supported by a "Women for Transformation" public hearing that took place at the European Parliament in Strasbourg in February 2011. Recently Gender Concerns International has developed an effective and large network of women and civil society organisations in South Sudan and currently is preparing its first ever stakeholders-networking mission to Juba.
Partners:
Gender Concerns International operates via a network of public authorities, non governmental organisations and individuals at both national and international level. Gender Concerns International is a signatory to the Dutch National Action Plan on UNSCR 1325, (NAP 1325) and an active partner with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Netherlands. In the Netherlands, Gender Concerns International has been asked to take the lead in coordinating the efforts of the NAP 1325 signatories working in Afghanistan and the region in the field of women’s leadership and political participation.
Gender and democracy (GD)
Despite the denial and discouragement from concerned authorities, women are raising their voices to state that the Arab and Middle Eastern women are eager to enter the democratic process. In May 2005, Gender Concerns International recognized the need and supported to organize an international conference in Cairo. Since then, the secretariat has organised several projects, among them was the an all female election monitoring mission to Pakistan in 2007.
Read MoreGender and disaster management (GDM)
Gender Concerns Pakistan, together with its Pakistani partner organizations Aurat Foundation and Paiman, has appealed to Gender Concerns International to take action in order to help flood affected people in Pakistan. In response to this request Gender Concerns International's head office in The Hague, together with the Pakistani Community in the Netherlands and the Women for Water Partnership, has launched the People to People campaign. Read MoreGender and minorities (GM)
Gender Concerns International advocates proportional representation of ethnic and cultural minorities into Dutch political and policy making structures. We believe that the progressive integration of minorities into national and international representative bodies is the key for social harmony and societal balance. Read MoreGender justice in conflict and peace (GJCP)
In the last 15 years, 80 % of the 20 poorest countries have suffered from war. After establishing peace 44% of these countries relapsed in the former state of conflict. Most post-war reconstruction strategies, which aim to help the whole population in the area of conflict, neglect the uniqueness and different needs of disparate groups in the society. Often women are one of such groups. Read More
