Empowering women and girls action medeor

Unequal opportunities

Women and girls make up half of the world's population and yet still often have significantly less say and opportunities for self-determination than men. Many girls around the world have very limited access to education. This has an impact on their further development, leads to lower economic potential and increases the risk of poverty.

Violence and traditions: Double threat for women

Women and girls are repeatedly victims of sexual violence, even in their own homes. This has both physical and psychological consequences and often affects the social and economic opportunities of those affected. This is compounded by traditional practices such as female genital mutilation, which still symbolizes the transition to adulthood in many parts of the world. In addition to short-term consequences such as extreme pain, blood loss and infections, circumcisions have long-term consequences such as difficulty urinating, psychological problems, impaired sexual sensation and complications during childbirth.

Pregnancy: avoidable risks

Women in disadvantaged regions are exposed to additional risks during pregnancy and childbirth. As there is a lack of adequate medical care in many places, women or their babies repeatedly die from complications during pregnancy or childbirth. Deaths that are preventable.

action medeor in action for women and girls worldwide

Sierra Leone: A life-threatening tradition

In the fight for the rights and health of girls and women, action medeor is active in many ways - for example, in the abolition of the tradition of female genital mutilation in Sierra Leone together with the local partner organization WAVES (Women Against Violence and Exploitation in Society).

By raising awareness among influential people and involving political decision-makers, schoolgirls and parents, we are paving the way towards a life free of violence for young girls and women in the project region. Knowledge about sexual health and the rights of girls and women is imparted in interactive human rights training and educational events. The aim is to obtain declarations of intent at community level to abolish circumcision in order to campaign for a law banning it at national level. In addition, safe spaces are created for the young girls where worries and fears can be discussed.

Guatemala: A life free from violence

Together with two local organizations, action medeor has been committed to a life free of violence for women in Guatemala for over a decade. Every day, an average of four women disappear here. According to the national forensic institute, around 400 femicides - murders of women - are registered each year. The social acceptance and normalization of violence as well as the patriarchal structures in the country are encouraging the rise in violence.

With the help of women's advice centers, women are offered a point of contact to help them leave the cycle of violence:

• Women and their children find protection in the centers and receive physical and psychological treatment.
• Guided self-help groups offer the opportunity to share experiences and find solutions together.
• Affected women receive legal advice and free legal representation in court.
• So that the women also become financially independent, courses are offered in which they learn how to make and sell products themselves.

Sierra Leone: education and medical care

Also in Sierra Leone, action medeor is committed to improving medical care for women before, during and after childbirth: Since 2017, 50 midwives have been trained each year at the Midwifery School in Bo, which action medeor opened together with the local organization Caritas Bo. As one of four midwifery schools in the country, the action medeor midwifery school is helping to steadily increase the number of midwives in Sierra Leone. In 2017, there were just under 320; by 2023, more than 1,400 midwives will be caring for expectant mothers, particularly in remote regions.