The regional programme on Gender and Women’s Rights is based on the cooperation between KVINFO and a number of Danish and Arab partners. 

The programme was launched in July 2007 and includes activities with participation from most of the Arab region. It supports the development of long-term cooperation and twinning relationships between Danish and Arab organisations and institutions. Partners include women’s and human rights organisations, shelters for women victims of violence, documentation centres on gender issues and educational institutions including gender-study centres.

Working for women’s rights

The overall aim of the programme is to strengthen the cooperation between civil society in Denmark and the Arab region, as well as to improve women’s rights and strengthen women’s active participation in society.  The programme also aims at encouraging and strengthening the debate on gender issues – both in the Arab region and between Arab and Danish partners.

Key focus areas

The activities of the regional programme are focusing on the following focal points:

• Legal Change
• Women in the Public Sphere
• Gender-based Violence
• Research, Documentation and Debate on Gender Issues

These key focus areas touch upon the main challenges of women in the Arab region. These are challenges that are often shared by women, both in Denmark and in other parts of the world. The choice of key focus areas was based on recommendations from Arab women activists and on the potential for establishing a fruitful exchange between Danish and Arab activists and professionals.

Exchange of knowledge

The regional programme includes and supports a large number of different activities.  KVINFO works with partners in Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt and Palestine setting up national Who is She databases of women experts, The Danish National Observatory of Violence cooperates with several Arab organisations on the development of an Arab regional observatory against violence, Danish and Arab shelters are sharing their experiences and the Fund for Dialogue and Cooperation supports the joint efforts of other Danish and Arab NGOs.

Creating opportunities for debate

A very important aim of the regional programme is to create opportunities for debate – especially between those who do not meet very often. Public meetings, seminars and conferences facilitate face-to-face encounters and debates and the website Womendialogue. org promotes communication on the main themes of this programme.

For more info about this project

Please contact:

Lene Ingvartsen

Programme Adviser
E-mail: lene.ingvartsen@kvinfo.dk
Tlf: 50 76 33 63
Skype: lenekvinfo