2012 Report - Equality Now

Equality Now
Celebrating 20 years of advocacy and action 1992-2012
2012 Annual Report . I
Equality Now
Founded in 1992, Equality Now is an international human rights organization that works to
protect and promote the rights of women and girls around the world through the areas of
Discrimination in Law, Sexual Violence, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and Trafficking.
Equality Now combines grassroots activism with international, regional and national legal
advocacy to achieve legal and systemic change to benefit women and girls, and works to
ensure that governments enact and enforce laws and policies that uphold their rights. The
organization’s Equality Action Network is comprised of groups and individuals in more
than 160 countries. Equality Now envisions a world where women and girls have equal
rights under the law and full enjoyment of those rights. www.equalitynow.org
Fundada en 1992, Igualdad Ya es una organización internacional de derechos Humanos
que trabaja para proteger y promover los derechos de mujeres y niñas en todo el
mundo en las áreas de Discriminación en la ley, Violencia sexual, Mutilación
genital femenina y Trata de personas. Igualdad Ya combina el activismo de base
con campañas legales de nivel internacional, regional y local para conseguir
un cambio legal y sistémico favorable a las mujeres, y lucha para garantizar
la promulgación y la consolidación de leyes y políticas que defiendan sus
derechos por parte de los gobiernos. La Red Acción de Igualdad Ya está
formada por grupos y particulares presentes en más de 160 países. Igualdad
Ya concibe un mundo en el que las mujeres tengan los mismos derechos ante
la ley y puedan disfrutar totalmente de ellos. www.equalitynow.org
Egalité Maintenant est une organisation internationale de défense des droits
humains fondée en 1992 qui travaille à protéger et promouvoir les droits des
femmes et des filles dans le monde. Nous nous concentrons sur la discrimination
juridique, les violences sexuelles, les mutilations génitales féminines (MGF) et
la traite des femmes et des filles. En combinant activisme de terrain et plaidoyer
juridique aux niveaux national, régional et international, l’organisation réalise des
changements juridiques et systémiques en faveur des femmes et des filles, et veille
à ce que les gouvernements adoptent et appliquent des lois et des politiques qui
défendent leurs droits. Le Réseau Action d’Egalité Maintenant est composé de groupes
et d’individus répartis dans plus de 160 pays. Egalité Maintenant imagine un monde
dans lequel les femmes et les filles auront les mêmes droits en vertu de la loi et pourront
pleinement jouir de ceux-ci. www.equalitynow.org
www.equalitynow.org
2 . Equality Now
Impact of Equality Now: More than half of the 63 national laws
highlighted in Equality Now’s reports on sex discrimination
in law have been repealed or amended by their respective
governments ▪ 36 of 54 AU member states have ratified the
Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa ▪ Equality Now
Taken on the US military on its role in promoting sex trafficking
the UK ▪ Organized the first Summit of Afghan Women after
the fall of the Taliban ▪ Taken on the US military on its role in
promoting sex trafficking ▪ UN General Assembly passed an
April, Equality Now
reached a FGM,
milestone—20
years of▪ working
to the first
historic nresolution
banning
globally
Among
protect
and as
promote
the humantraditional
rights of women practice
and girls around
thehuman
to identify
FGM
a harmful
and
world. What began as a small, dedicated team of volunteers working
▪ Amplifying the voices of local women
rights violation
with local human rights groups and individual activists has grown into
regionally
and organization.
internationally ▪ Helped push the frontiers of
a truly global
international law Impact of Equality Now: More than half of
trafficking,laws
reproductive
rights, sex discriminatory
laws,
domesticreports on
the 63Sex
national
highlighted
in Equality
Now’s
violence and female genital mutilation were not seen as issues of global
sex discrimination
in law have been repealed or amended by
concern for the mainstream human rights movement in our early years.
▪ 36andofour54global
AUpartners
member
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We take pride in governments
the fact that Equality Now
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Protocol
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▪ Organized
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identify FGM as a harmful traditional practice and
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joined with us
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we value your
supportwomen
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▪ Helped
and look
forward
to partnering with you
for our nextpush
20 years!the frontiers of
international law Impact of Equality Now: More than half of
Warm regards,
the 63 national laws
highlighted in Equality Now’s reports on
sex discrimination in law have been repealed or amended by
their respective governments ▪ 36 of 54 AU member states
have ratified theYasmeen
Protocol
theDirector
Rights of Women in Africa
Hassan,on
Global
Taken on the US military on its role in promoting sex trafficking
UN General Assembly passed historic resolution banning FGM
▪ Equality Now has become one of the preeminent voices on
ending FGM in the UK ▪ Organized the first Summit of Afghan
Women after the fall of the Taliban ▪ Amplifies the voices of
local women regionally and internationally ▪ Among the first
to identify FGM as a harmful traditional practice
and
human
2012
2012
Annual
AnnualReport
Report . 3
rights violation ▪ Helped push the frontiers of international law
1992-2012: 20 Years in Review
I
1992-2012: regard sur les 20 dernières années
En avril, Egalité Maintenant a franchi une étape importante: 20 ans passés à protéger et promouvoir les droits
humains des femmes et des filles à travers le monde. Ce qui était au départ une petite équipe de bénévoles
dévoués travaillant avec des activistes particuliers et des groupes de droits humains régionaux, est devenu une
organisation d’envergure internationale.
Lors de nos premières années d’activité, la traite à des fins sexuelles, les droits en matière de reproduction,
les lois discriminatoires en fonction du sexe, les violences domestiques et les mutilations génitales féminines
n’étaient pas considérés comme des questions d’intérêt général par les organisations de droits humains plus
traditionnelles. Nous sommes fiers du fait qu’Egalité Maintenant et nos partenaires internationaux ont contribué
à changer cela et restons déterminés à réaliser des changements juridiques et systémiques pour le bénéfice de
toutes les femmes et les filles.
Dans les années à venir, nous nous efforcerons de mieux exposer la nécessité de parvenir à l’égalité des
sexes ainsi que son importance pour le développement, la paix et la sécurité. Nous chercherons également à
amener plus de gens, en particulier les hommes et les jeunes, à participer au mouvement.
Que vous nous ayez rejoints en 1992, 2002 ou 2012, nous apprécions votre soutien et nous nous
réjouissons de collaborer avec vous lors de nos 20 prochaines années!
Cordialement, Yasmeen Hassan, directrice globale
1992-2012: un repaso de los últimos 20 años
Este mes de abril, Igualdad Ya alcanzó un hito, 20 años de trabajo dedicados a proteger y promover los
derechos humanos de las mujeres de todo el mundo. Lo que empezó siendo una colaboración de un equipo
pequeño y entregado de voluntarios con los grupos locales defensores de los derechos humanos y con activistas
individuales, ha crecido hasta convertirse en una organización realmente global.
El tráfico sexual, los derechos reproductivos, las leyes discriminatorias por razón de sexo, la violencia de
género y la mutilación genital femenina, no eran considerados asuntos de interés global para el movimiento de
los derechos humanos existente en aquellos primeros años. Nos sentimos orgullosos del hecho de que Igualdad
Ya y nuestros socios mundiales hayan impulsado el cambio y mantenemos nuestro compromiso por la lucha
para conseguir un cambio jurídico y sistémico favorable a todas las mujeres.
En el futuro buscaremos la manera de comunicar mejor la necesidad de alcanzar la igualdad de género y su
importancia para el desarrollo, la paz y la seguridad. También lucharemos para conseguir que un mayor número
de personas, sobre todo hombres y jóvenes, se incorpore al movimiento.
¡Independientemente de si empezó a colaborar con nosotros en 1992, en el 2002 o en el 2012, agradecemos
su apoyo y esperamos seguir contando con su ayuda durante los próximos 20 años!
Un afectuoso saludo, Yasmeen Hassan, Directora General
4 . Equality Now
Campaigns & Urgent Alerts
2012
maRCH
—Global: call on Village Voice Media to stop facilitating sex trafficking
—morocco: End the legal exemption for rapists who marry their victims
maY
—United States: call for zero tolerance on demand that fuels
sex trafficking
—egypt: Stop the lowering of the minimum age of marriage for girls
—Yemen: End child marriages by enacting and enforcing a
minimum age of marriage law
—Rwanda: Ensure access to safe legal abortions
JUne
—Sudan: Stop the stoning of Intisar Sharif Abdalla
—Saudi arabia: continued call for the repeal of the ban
on women driving
—Liberia: Enact a law banning FGM
JULY
—Global: repeal sex discriminatory laws
aUGUSt
—Pakistan: Protect human rights defenders
and ensure justice for murdered activists
SePtemBeR
—Indonesia: End government legitimization
of FGM
oCtoBeR
—United States: Sexual assault of women in the
military must be stopped
©Suzanna Finley
noVemBeR
—Jordan: Give women equal citizenship rights
to men
—Uganda: Properly investigate and prosecute
cases of sexual violence against girls with
disabilities
—egypt: Protect women’s full equality in the
new constitution
DeCemBeR
—egypt: Delay constitutional referendum until
its provisions protect equality for all Egyptians
2012
2012Annual
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20th Anniversary Celebration
E
quality Now marked our 20-year milestone on 19 April with a celebration
in New York City, attended by 300 guests. Hosted by Tony Award-winning
playwright and Advisory Board member, Sarah Jones, and written and directed
by Academy Award nominee, Emmy Award winner and Advisory Board member
Joss Whedon, the variety-style show featured a talented cast who used humor, drama
and video to creatively explore and highlight Equality Now’s core thematic issues. The
evening was rounded out with live music and an energetic dance performance.
Clockwise from top left: Joss Whedon, Navanethem Pillay, Vanessa Redgrave, Debra Winger, Sarah Jones,
Jessica Neuwirth and Yasmeen Hassan with the “When I Speak” cast members; Sarah Jones in character;
Meg Ryan and Leonard Nimoy; Neil Casey and Daphne Zuniga perform “Evil Robot”; Pamela Shifman,
Bonnie Schaefer and Peter & Jennifer Buffett
6 . Equality Now
Clockwise from top left: Jamal Jackson Dance Company performs; Equality Now’s Karen Asare, Mehr
Qureshi, Antonia Kirkland and Kristen Berg; Marcela Barry, Sophie Hearn and Eden Sanaa Duncan-Smith
perform “When I Speak”; April 2012 Congressional Record pays tribute to Equality Now courtesy of U.S.
Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney; Sue Smalley & Kevin Wall
Clockwise from top left: Joss Whedon and Vanessa Redgrave; Nairobi Director Faiza Jama Mohamed and London
Director Jacqui Hunt with co-founders Jessica Neuwirth and Navanethem Pillay, and Board Members Colette De
Troy and Maha Abu-Dayyeh Shamas; Laura Linney performs; “Zombie” cast members Debra Winger, Dan Mersh
and Eliza Dushku; Natalie Merchant performs; Equality Now’s Yasmeen Hassan and Suzanna Finley
PHOTOS cOUrTESY OF Suzanna Finley, Getty Images & Jenny Warburg
2012 Annual Report . 7
Campaign Snapshot  Focus in
 DISCRImInatIon In LaW
• GLOBAL: repeal/amend sex discriminatory laws
• AFrIcA: Push for the ratification & implementation of the Protocol on the
rights of Women in Africa
• EGYPT: Promote women’s rights post-revolution
• LEBANON & JOrDAN: reform sex discriminatory nationality laws
• MOrOccO: Eliminate the legal exemption for rapists who marry their victims
• SAUDI ArABIA: End the male guardianship system over women & the ban on
women driving
• UK: challenge harmful representations of women in the British press
©Suzanna Finley

 SeXUaL VIoLenCe
• KENYA: Ensure police accountability in cases of sexual
violence against adolescent girls
• KYrGYZSTAN: End bride kidnapping
• PAKISTAN: Enact a law against incest, reform procedures on
sexual violence & end police impunity for violence against
women and girls
• SAUDI ArABIA & YEMEN: Ban child marriage
• UGANDA: Implement special measures for disabled victims
of sexual violence
• USA: Protect women in the military from sexual violence &
ensure their access to justice
• ZAMBIA: Empower girls & establish systems to prevent
sexual violence
8 . Equality Now


2012
 femaLe GenItaL
mUtILatIon (fGm)
©Suzanna Finley
• INDONESIA: Stop government
legitimization of FGM
• KENYA & NIGEr: Strengthen
implementation of anti-FGM law
• LIBErIA & MALI: Establish a law
banning FGM
• UK: create & implement a government
strategy to end FGM
• USA: Amend anti-FGM law to criminalize
taking girls out of the country for FGM














 



 tRaffICKInG
• BrAZIL & USA: Implement U.S. anti-trafficking laws to protect
girls exploited by U.S. sex tourists overseas
• GLOBAL: Ensure that HIV/AIDS prevention work does not
adversely impact anti-trafficking work
• USA: Enforce government zero tolerance policies for the buying
of sex by its employees
2012 Annual Report . 9
Steps to Progress: Impact of our
20 YEARS OF IMPACT
Equality Now was founded at a time when most human rights organizations did not
focus on women’s rights. Many of the issues we took on were largely unknown in
the public sphere and weren’t being thoroughly addressed by UN agencies, such
as sex trafficking and the practice of FGM. We helped change this paradigm.
We were one of the first international women’s rights organizations to support
the efforts of grassroots partners and systematically link their issues to
international advocacy. Over half of the discriminatory laws we highlighted in
our campaigns have been amended or repealed.
We have never shied away from taking on difficult or controversial issues.
When the Taliban fell in Afghanistan, we organized the first summit of Afghan
women to inform their future. We took on the Pakistani government for
failing to prevent the destruction of girls’ schools in Swat valley. We held
the U.S. military to account for its role in promoting sex trafficking and
were the first organization to tackle sex tourism.
We have helped push the frontiers of international law—whether in
the context of the rape of Bosnian women or femicides in Mexico.
We helped draft the Protocol on the rights of Women in Africa, a
landmark regional treaty, and spearheaded a continent-wide coalition
of NGOs in Solidarity for African Women’s rights (SOAWr coalition)
to push for its adoption and ratification. We have held UN agencies to
account when they have failed to protect women’s rights.
Equality Now is dedicated to achieving legal and systemic change on behalf
of women and girls around the world and we look forward to our next 20 years
of advocacy and action.
Women’s Rights in Post-Revolution Egypt
Despite the political instability and dissolution of
Parliament in Egypt, Equality Now continues to
strategize with and support our partners’ activities
in the region. Working primarily through the media,
human rights mechanisms and individual campaigns,
we spoke out on discrimination and the backsliding on
women’s rights since the Arab Uprisings.
Addressing Violence Against Girls in Zambia
Demonstrating for a democratic Egypt
©UN Women/Enas Abu ElKomsan
10 . Equality Now
We concluded our third year of supporting the Tisunge
Ana Athu Akhazi Coalition, working to end violence
against girls and raise public awareness of the issue. To
date, 2000 girls and boys have taken part in Safe Spaces
and Boys’ Network clubs, respectively; 16 plays reaching
3000 community members were performed; a combined
170 legal, medical and media professionals attended
training workshops; and filming began on a documentary
Campaigns
focusing on this issue. The Coalition continues to work on developing and
implementing guidelines targeting violence against girls in schools.
Child Marriage in Saudi Arabia
Following two years of advocacy on behalf of Fatima, a 12-year-old Saudi
girl whose father sold her in marriage to a 50-year-old man, Fatima
received her divorce papers without having to pay back the dower in
November. Equality Now and our partners continue to call on the
Kingdom to institute a minimum age of marriage in accordance with
internationally recommended standards, and to put an end to the male
guardianship system that is facilitating child marriages.
Ending Bride Kidnapping in Kyrgyzstan
Equality Now’s Adolescent
Girls’ Legal Defense Fund
report, Feb. 2012
Following a campaign asking the government to step up its efforts to
address bride kidnapping, Equality Now was informed that the Kyrgyz Public Prosecutor’s office
has taken steps to strengthen investigations of bride kidnapping cases across the country. In
December, the Kyrgyz Parliament approved a bill to strengthen legislation against the practice. We
are now working with our partners to ensure that the law is implemented.
Combating Online
Facilitation of Sex
Trafficking
In March, Equality Now
launched a campaign targeting
Village Voice Media-owned
website, Backpage.com, whose
“adult” sections normalize and
provide an easy, anonymous
method for commercial
sexual exploitation of women
and girls by traffickers and
pimps. 48 State Attorneys
General, 45 City Mayors,
District Attorneys, Congress
Members, and countless
NGOs, activists, survivors,
Trafficking Program Officer Kristen Berg at rally protesting Village Voice’s
artists and journalists joined
online facilitation of sex trafficking, Mar. 2012
the movement. In April, New
York office staff testified before the New York City Council, resulting in the passage of a resolution
calling for the removal of Backpage.com.
Brazil/U.S. Sex Tourism Case Can Proceed
In November, a U.S. judge granted the motion to lift the stay in the civil case of a U.S. company
operating sex tours in Brazil so that the case can proceed. Government officials, journalists and
civil society organizations in Brazil are using this case to expose sex tourism in the region.
2012 Annual Report . 11
Steps to Progress, continued
Banning FGM Globally
As a result of sustained efforts by Equality Now
and our partners, in December the UN General
Assembly passed a resolution banning FGM
that was led by African countries. This marks
the first time that the General Assembly has
agreed to include the elimination of FGM on its
agenda.
Targeting FGM in the UK
In our second year as Secretariat of the
All Party Parliamentary Group on FGM,
Nairobi staff members Caroline Muthoni and Mary
London office staff has undertaken extensive
Ciugu with Hawa Aden Mohammed of the Galkayo
efforts to successfully raise the visibility of
Education Centre for Peace and Development
this issue through the media, conferences,
and community outreach and with the UK Home Office. The Director of Public Prosecutions
published an action plan on improving prosecutions, and upon our recommendation, the Home
Office published a “Health Passport” targeting FGM in 11 languages, which lists Equality Now as
a resource.
Protecting Girls from FGM
in Kenya
TNI founder and coordinator Agnes Pareyio with girls at Tasaru girls
rescue center in Kenya
Equality Now partnered with
the Tasaru Ntomonok Initiative
(TNI) to strengthen the existing
community child protection
mechanism to end FGM in Kenya.
We are working with professionals,
community leaders and law
enforcement agents with the goal
of protecting girls from undergoing
FGM. TNI also conducted
awareness-raising workshops for
targeted communities, successfully
conducted two reconciliation
meetings and supported more
than 50 girls who underwent an
alternative rite of passage without
the cut.
Closing Legal Loopholes on FGM in the U.S.
As a result of Equality Now and partner efforts, Congress passed the ‘Transport for Female
Genital Mutilation’ law as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act in
December. The law criminalizes the transport of girls abroad to subject them to FGM and will be
signed into law in January.
12 . Equality Now
Empowering Girls
Adolescent Girls’ Legal Defense Fund (AGLDF)
Keeping girls safe at home, at school and in their communities
Over the years, Equality Now has been honored to work with courageous girls who have bravely
challenged their treatment and denial of rights, so that the world can be a better place for other
girls. With this in mind, we
created the Adolescent Girls’
Legal Defense Fund in 2008
to establish legal precedents
to prevent and better address
future violations of girls’ rights.
In collaboration with grassroots
organizations, we work with
girls, their families and lawyers
to navigate often complex legal
systems and create public
awareness of the issues locally,
Equality Now staff with members of the The Arts Effect NYC after
nationally and internationally.
International Day of the Girl Child performance, Oct. 2012
Through 2012, the AGLDF has
undertaken nine cases in eight countries strategically selected to address the most common and
significant human rights abuses of adolescent girls. These include: sex tourism in Brazil/USA,
abduction, rape and forced marriage in Ethiopia, FGM and gang rape in Kenya, incest and gang
rape in Pakistan, rape of girls with disabilities in Uganda, child marriage in Yemen and teacher
rape in Zambia. In February, with the support of the Nike Foundation, we published Learning
from Cases of Girls’ Rights, a comprehensive report consolidating knowledge gained from the
program. Stemming from this report, Equality
“What I have gone through made me
Now commissioned When I Speak, a dramatic
lose my ambitions, but now I have
piece illustrating three of the AGLDF cases, from
started a new life full of flying colors.
Advisory Board member Joss Whedon, which
I am glad to have people like you
was performed at our 20th anniversary event, at
supporting me in my time of need.”
multiple advocacy events and is available online.
International Day of the Girl Child
Girls rap about the “The F-Word”
(Feminist)
–rape survivor Niara, age 17, Kenya
11 October marked the inaugural International Day of the
Girl Child. It was a day of advocacy and action, by and
for girls, to highlight, celebrate and foster discussion,
and advance girls’ lives and opportunities around the
world. Equality Now recognized this day with an event at
the home of Advisory Board member, Lela Goren, which
amplified the power of girls’ voices to affect change.
Members of The Arts Effect All-Girl Theater Company and
the Project Girl Performance Collective, engrossed the
audience as they performed When I Speak and original
pieces written and performed by the talented girls.
2012 Annual Report . 13
Highlights
Above, participants of an Equality Now Lawyers Training in Dakar, Senegal with Minister of Justice, Madam
Aminata Touré, Jul. 2012
Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa (Protocol)
The SOAWR coalition, of which Equality Now serves as the Secretariat, continues to be a
driving force in the adoption of the Protocol. Côte D’Ivoire, the Congo, Guinea, Swaziland
and Cameroon became the 32nd through 36th African Union member states to ratify
the treaty, resulting in a 67% overall ratification rate. Our Nairobi office staff continues
to train lawyers and activists on the effective use of the Protocol, with a special focus on
Francophone Africa in 2012.
Challenging the harmful representation
of women in the British press
In 2011, Prime Minister David Cameron launched an
investigation into press ethics and journalism practices in
the UK, known as the Leveson Inquiry. Equality Now and
partners End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW),
Eaves Housing and Object subsequently came together
and presented testimony to the Inquiry in January, making
Holly Dustin, Director of the EVAW a strong argument that the pervasive sexual objectification
coalition, and Jacqui Hunt discuss
and stereotypical portrayals of women in the press, and
the Leveson campaign
the culture of victim-blaming in cases of violence against
women, limited women’s democratic participation and their access to justice. The coalition
also published an evaluation of sexism in British national papers that was submitted to the
Prime Minister’s office. The campaign garnered significant media coverage and several of the
coalitions’ concerns and recommendations were included in the Inquiry’s official report.
14
14 .. Equality
EqualityNow
Now
©Lynn Savarese
Profiles
BoaRD PRofILe:
JeSSICa neUWIRtH
PaRtneR PRofILe:
aZZa SULeIman
Jessica
Neuwirth
co-founded
Equality Now
and serves
as President
of the Board
and UK
Trustees. Equality Now was built
on her vision of a strategic and
effective international women’s
rights organization that could
set a standard for grassroots
activism and translate women’s
needs into national, regional
and international law, policy
and practice. Her passion and
dedication to ending violence
and discrimination against
women and girls provided the
foundation that has allowed
Equality Now to become the
respected organization that it
is today. Over the years, Jessica
has also worked in the UN
Office of Legal Affairs and as
Director of the New York Office
of the High Commissioner for
Human Rights; served as a
special consultant on sexual
violence to the International
Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda;
and organized the UN high-level
panel on reparations for sexual
violence in the Democratic
Republic of Congo.
Advocating for Equal Rights
for Egypt’s Women
Azza Suleiman,
a prominent
campaigner,
powerful lobbyist
and leading
advocate for
human rights,
envisions an
Egypt where
women are respected and equality
and justice are shared by all. Since
1995, she has been the Director of the
Center of Egyptian Women’s Legal
Assistance (CEWLA), providing legal,
social and psychological aid primarily to
impoverished women, and advocating
against FGM, honor crimes and
discriminatory laws. CEWLA successfully
built a 72-member coalition to combat
violence against women throughout
Egypt and implemented a comprehensive
program addressing incest, rape and
inheritance. The organization also has
training programs for men and women to
raise their gender awareness and to create
community dialogue on the importance
of participating in the formation of a new
constitution that takes gender issues into
account. Azza has partnered with Equality
Now for more than a decade and worked
with us to lobby for the UN Working
Group on the issue of discrimination
against women in law and in practice.
2012
2012Annual
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FAITS MARQUANTS
DIScrIMINATION JUrIDIQUE: Egalité Maintenant continue de cibler les lois discriminatoires en fonction
du sexe et, en 2012, une de ces lois a été modifiée en Argentine. En Jordanie, nous avons également lancé
une campagne qui vise spécifiquement à abroger les lois sur la nationalité qui sont discriminatoires en
fonction du sexe. Notre action en faveur de la ratification et de la mise en œuvre du Protocole sur les droits
des femmes en Afrique a conduit à sa ratification par le Congo, la Guinée, la Côte d’Ivoire, le Swaziland et
le Cameroun. Malgré la dissolution du parlement égyptien, nous soutenons les initiatives revendicatrices
de nos partenaires et plaidons en faveur de la promotion des droits des femmes dans la période postrévolution. Au Maroc, nous avons lancé une campagne qui demande la suppression de l’exemption légale
pour les violeurs qui épousent leurs victimes. En Arabie saoudite, nous continuons à faire pression pour
mettre fin au système de tutelle masculine. Notre bureau londonien a également lancé une initiative qui a
pour objectif de s’attaquer au sexisme présent dans la presse britannique.
VIOLENcES SEXUELLES: Egalité Maintenant a fait campagne au Kenya pour que la police soit tenue pour
responsable dans les affaires de violences sexuelles contre des adolescentes ; au Pakistan pour l’adoption
d’une loi contre l’inceste, pour une réforme des procédures juridiques afin que les victimes de violences
sexuelles puissent accéder à la justice, et pour mettre fin à l’impunité policière dans les affaires de violence
contre les femmes et les filles ; en Ouganda pour la mise en œuvre de mesures spéciales en faveur des
personnes handicapées victimes de violences sexuelles; aux EtatsUnis pour protéger les femmes militaires des violences sexuelles et
leur garantir un accès à la justice, et en Arabie saoudite et au Yémen
pour interdire les mariages précoces. En Arabie saoudite, nous
avons réussi à obtenir le divorce pour une fille qui avait été vendue
en mariage à l’âge de 12 ans. Notre campagne pour mettre fin au
mariage par enlèvement au Kirghizistan a débouché sur l’adoption
d’un projet de loi contre la pratique. En Zambie, nous avons
également entamé notre troisième année de soutenir d’une coalition
locale qui œuvre pour mettre fin aux violences contre les filles et
sensibiliser le public à ce problème.
TrAITE DES FEMMES ET DES FILLES: au nom de quatre brésiliennes victimes de tourisme sexuel, Egalité
Maintenant continue de collaborer à la première action judicaire au civil contre une société américaine
organisatrice de tourisme sexuel en Amazonie. Nous avons également lancé des campagnes pour
demander au gouvernement américain qu’il applique ses politiques de tolérance zéro en cas d’achat de
services sexuels de la part de fonctionnaires, et, parce qu’elle facilite la traite sexuelle sur Internet, pour que
Village Voice Media ferme partout dans le monde la section « annonces adultes » de leur site Backpage.
com. Des membres de notre bureau new-yorkais ont témoigné devant le conseil municipal de New York,
ce qui a entraîné le passage d’une résolution appelant à la suppression de la rubrique adulte de Backpage.
com. Egalité Maintenant a également dirigé une coalition globale qui a pour but de veiller à ce que les
initiatives de l’ONU en faveur de la prévention du VIH/sida ne nuisent pas à la lutte contre la traite.
16 . Equality Now
©Yasmeen Hassan
MUTILATIONS GENITALES FEMININES: Egalité Maintenant continue
à plaider pour une loi qui interdise les MGF au Libéria et au Mali, et
pour renforcer la mise en œuvre de la législation anti-MGF au Kenya
et au Niger. En Indonésie, nous avons également lancé une campagne
pour mettre fin à la légitimation des MGF par le gouvernement. Dans le cadre de notre deuxième année en
tant que responsable du secrétariat du Groupe britannique parlementaire multipartite sur les MGF, nous
avons accru de manière significative la sensibilisation du public à la question et le procureur général a publié
une stratégie de renforcement des poursuites judiciaires. Aux Etats-Unis, nos efforts pour combler le vide
juridique sur les MGF ont abouti à une loi qui criminalise le transport de filles à l’étranger s’il a pour objectif
de les soumettre à des MGF en dehors du pays. Enfin, à la suite d’efforts soutenus de la part d’Egalité
Maintenant et de nos partenaires, l’Assemblée générale des Nations Unies a adopté une remarquable
résolution conduite par les pays africains qui a pour but d’interdire les MGF dans le monde.
ELEMENTOS DESTACADOS DEL PROGRAMA
©Suzanna Finley
DIScrIMINAcIÓN EN LA LEY: Igualdad Ya continúa
luchando contra las leyes discriminatorias por razón de sexo,
y en el 2012 consiguió la abolición de esta ley en Argentina. En
Jordania lanzamos una campaña específicamente dirigida a la
derogación de las leyes de nacionalidad discriminatorias por
razón de sexo. Nuestro empeño por impulsar la ratificación
e implantación del Protocolo sobre los Derechos de las
Mujeres en África, comportó las ratificaciones en el Congo,
Guinea, Costa de Marfil, Suazilandia y Camerún. A pesar de
la disolución del Parlamento en Egipto, apoyamos la lucha
de nuestros socios que aboga por la promoción en la post
revolución de los derechos de las mujeres. En Marruecos
lanzamos una campaña que exigía la eliminación de la
exención legal de los violadores para casarse con sus víctimas.
En Arabia Saudí continuamos reclamando la desaparición del
sistema de tutela masculina. La oficina de Londres adoptó
una iniciativa especial en contra de las representaciones
perjudiciales de las mujeres en la prensa británica.
VIOLENcIA SEXUAL: Igualdad Ya dio a conocer la
responsabilidad policial en casos de violencia sexual contra
chicas adolescentes en Kenia; en Pakistán instó la promulgación
de una ley contra el incesto y la adopción de los procedimientos
legales necesarios para la reforma con el objeto de que las
víctimas de violencia sexual puedan acceder a la justicia y se acabe con la impunidad de la policía en los casos
de violencia contra las mujeres; en Uganda exigió la implantación de medidas especiales para las mujeres
discapacitadas víctimas de violencia sexual; en EE.UU. instamos la protección de las mujeres contra la
violencia sexual en el ejército y la garantía de su acceso a la justicia; y exigimos la prohibición del matrimonio
infantil en Arabia Saudí y Yemen. En Arabia Saudí conseguimos que una chica que había sido vendida en
matrimonio a la edad de 12 años obtuviera el divorcio. Nuestra campaña para acabar con el secuestro de la
novia en Kirguistán comportó la aprobación de un proyecto de ley destinado a reforzar la legislación contra
la práctica. También acabamos nuestro tercer año de apoyo a una coalición local para acabar con la violencia
contra las adolescentes en Zambia y despertar la conciencia pública sobre el tema.
LA MUTILAcIÓN GENITAL FEMENINA: Igualdad Ya continúa abogando por una ley que prohíba la MGF
en Liberia y Mali y que consolide la implantación de una ley contraria a la MGF en Kenia y Níger. También
lanzamos una campaña destinada a parar la legitimación de la MGF por parte del gobierno en Indonesia.
En nuestro segundo año como Secretaría del Grupo Parlamentario de Todos los Partidos sobre la MGF
en el Reino Unido despertamos la conciencia pública sobre el tema y el Director de la Fiscalía Pública
publicó un plan para el aumento del número de juicios. En EE.UU., nuestra lucha por tapar el vacío legal
sobre la MGF desembocó en una ley que penaliza el hecho de sacar a las chicas del país para someterlas
a la mutilación genital femenina. Y, como consecuencia de los esfuerzos incansables de Igualdad Ya y de
sus socios, la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas aprobó una decisión masiva liderada por países
africanos para prohibirla MGF a nivel mundial.
TrATA DE PErSONAS: Igualdad Ya sigue apoyando el primer caso civil en nombre de las víctimas de
turismo sexual en Brasil contra una empresa estadounidense que organizaba excursiones sexuales por el
Amazonas. También lanzamos campañas instando al gobierno estadounidense a reforzar sus políticas
de tolerancia cero ante la compra de sexo por parte de sus empleados y para que Village Voice Media
desmonte sus páginas web Backpage.com de todo el mundo por su negocio de tráfico sexual por Internet.
El personal de la oficina de Nueva York testificó ante el Concejo Municipal de Nueva York, lo que comportó
la aprobación de una resolución que instaba la eliminación de Backpage.com. Del mismo modo, Igualdad
Ya encabezó una coalición mundial que intenta garantizar los esfuerzos de la agencia de las Naciones
Unidas para evitar que el VIH/SIDA no sean contraproducentes en la lucha contra el tráfico.
2012 Annual Report . 17
©Suzanna Finley
18 . Equality Now
Global Support
Equality Now is deeply thankful for all our donors, whose support makes
our work possible. In particular, we would like to recognize the following
organizations and individuals for their generosity.
$100,000 and above
Comic Relief
Foundation Open Society Institute
Foundation to Promote Open
Society
Victoria Gomez-Trenor
Inmaat Foundation
NEPAD Spanish Fund for African
Women’s Empowerment
NoVo Foundation
The Passport Foundation
The Ruth Turner Fund, Inc.
Susan L. Smalley and Kevin Wall
UN Trust Fund to End Violence
Against Women
$50,000 – 99,999
The Banky-Larocque Foundation
The Dreitzer Foundation, Inc.
ICAP Services North America LLC
Chandra Jessee
New Field Foundation Fund of
Tides Foundation
Nike Foundation
Rowland & Sylvia Schaefer
Family Foundation
$25,000 – 49,999
Abigail E. Disney
Furlotti Family Foundation
Jana Foundation, Inc.
The Margaret and Daniel Loeb–
Third Point Foundation
New York Women’s Foundation
Oxfam Great Britain
Pfizer, Inc.
Bonnie and Rick Rule
Shana Alexander Charitable
Foundation
$10,000 – 24,999
The Bydale Foundation
California Community
Foundation
Carlson Family Foundation, Inc.
Eve Ensler
Girls Rights Project
GUCCI
The Nararo Foundation
Laura J. O’Shea
Silver Mountain Foundation for
the Arts
The Wallace Fox Foundation
$5,000 – 9,999
Arkay Foundation
Culture of Resistance Network
Foundation
Peggy Darwin
Lela Goren
Karen Lehner
Michael Kassan
Stephen King
Matt Mullenweg
Jessica Neuwirth
Robert Neuwirth
Joseph H. and Florence A.
Roblee Foundation
Melissa Salten Rothman
Terry & Jane Semel Charitable
Foundation
$2,000 – 4,999
Deborah T. Ashford
Carrie Craven
Christine A. Doyle
The Gobioff Foundation
Barbara W. Gold
Greendale Lynn Family
Foundation
Bertrand Gros
Katie Grover
Gail McGreevy Harmon and
Pamela McGreevy
Yasmeen Hassan
Ann C. Herbst
The Hexberg Family Foundation
Jean-Philippe Hottinguer
John Hunter
Janney Montgomery Scott LLC
Marti Jonjak
Lauren McCann
Susan and Leonard Nimoy
Ellen Nusblatt
John and Bea Plasse Foundation
PECO Foundation
William Reid
Erica Schipper
Karen A. Simonsen
Colleen Smalley
Kristin K. Stitz and
J. Scott Coleman
Anne Trinque
UN Women West Africa
Regional Office
Elizabeth Walters
Sarah Wolkowitz
$1,000 – 1,999
Stuart Applebaum
Nicolas Bauche
Andrew Berger
Kaye Beth
The Blue Gator Foundation, Inc.
Twiss Butler
Norma Candia Troche
Susan Carvalho
Alexandra Chasin
Michelle Conde
Anne M. Connell
Leslie Couvillion
Christine Currie
Nina D’Ambra and
Martin Goldberg
Joseph D’Errico
Gerri V. Davis
Kathryn Deegan
Caroline Dessaint
Elizabeth Dripps
Elizabeth A. Evatt
Shepard Fairey
Rebecca Falik
Pierre Yves Firmenich
Foundation for a Just Society
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
US LLP
Kathleen Freston
Nathan Gaylinn
Pennelope Goodfriend
Adrienne and Ervin Gombos
The Greenberg Foundation
Tara Guber
Steven Hammond
2012 Annual Report . 19
Global Support cont.
Kari Lynn Hearn
David and Nicole Hoover
Antoine Housset
Kenneth J. Hughes
Laura Jaeger
Joseph Jordan
Nancy Kaplan
Daniel Kelly
Bo Kyun Kim
Karen Krahulik and Susan Allee
Frederic Laloum
Judy Lotas
Tracy Lovatt
Jennifer McCarthy
Lauren McEwen
Kerry McFie
Thomas D. Matte
Myriam Miedzian
Betsy Mitchell
Mark Moraes
Vanita Murthy
Therese Nelson and
Robert Vassar
Gloria S. Neuwirth
New Directions Foundation
Norman Foundation, Inc.
Equality Now receives 2nd Annual TrustLaw Impact Award with project
partners Latham & Watkins and RBS in London, 3 Dec.
Laurent Normand
Mary A. Parsons
Paula Ravets
David de Rothschild
Kulsoom Saeed
Ruth Sample
Susan Schewel
Jacques Seguin
Legacy Society
Elizabeth and Stephen Shafer
Leila Shakkour
Michelle D. Shardell
Rozanne Silverwood
Sheila L. Sullivan
The TR Family Trust
Erica Traut
John L. Warden
By donating to Equality Now through their estate
plans, members ensure their legacy as champions
of the rights of women and girls.
Those who wish to remain anonymous are not listed.
In 2012, Browncoats’
global Can’t Stop
the Serenity
screenings raised
$95,512
20 . Equality Now
Gary Baxel
Beverly Benoit
Dr. Michele Dayras
Ruth Garfield
Adrienne Gombos
Liz Iannone
Laurie Jenkins
Kate Lauer
John Levin and Diane Keefe
Laura A. Lewis
Caroline Mcmanus
Gloria Neuwirth
Alan D. Seget
Rosemary Sullivan
Erica Taylor
Grace Warolin
The 2012 Equality Now Team
BoaRD of DIReCtoRS
Jessica Neuwirth, President
Maha Abu-Dayyeh Shamas,
Vice President
Colette De Troy, Vice President
Heisoo Shin, Secretary
Elizabeth Evatt,
Acting Treasurer
Lisa Alter
Katie Grover
Tracy Lovatt
Sapana Pradhan Malla
Susan Smalley
Gloria Steinem
Helen Zia
Yasmeen Hassan, ex-officio
UK tRUSteeS
Jessica Neuwirth
Maha Abu-Dayyeh Shamas
Colette De Troy
Heisoo Shin
Elizabeth Evatt
Lisa Alter
Meaza Ashenafi
Katie Grover
Tracy Lovatt
Sapana Pradhan Malla
Susan Smalley
Gloria Steinem
Helen Zia
aDVISoRY BoaRD
Deborah Taylor Ashford
Elizabeth Odio Benito
Helen Bernstein
Sarah Brokaw
Winnie Byanyima
Edwidge Danticat
Amanda Fox
Lela Goren
Chandra Jessee
Sarah Jones
Christine Lahti
Ann MacDougall
Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge
Robin Morgan
Alanis Morissette
Equality Now Board members and management with co-founder Navi Pillay
Irene Kubota Neves
Lynn Nottage
Paula Reiser
Ellen Rosenthal
Joan Ruddock
Bonnie Schaefer
Marla Schaefer
Diala Shamas
Meryl Streep
Rose Styron
Joss Whedon
Timothy Wilkins
Liz Young
aGLDf aDVISoRY BoaRD
Judith Bruce, Chair
Lisa Alter
Laura Barnett
Dale Buscher
Elizabeth Evatt
Jane Fonda
Marianne Gimon
Ann Graham
Steve Hammond
Judge Claire L’Heureux Dubé
Carolyn Makinson
A Message from the 2013 Board Co-Chairs
As we recognize and celebrate 20 years of advocacy and action,
it is our honor to build on the vision of Jessica Neuwirth, who
became Honorary President of Equality Now in 2013 after more
than two decades of leading the organization. In the coming years,
we welcome the opportunity to position Equality Now as the most
recognized and effective organization helping women and girls
around the world. It is our goal to expand the organization’s size
and global reach and fully bring Equality Now into the digital age.
We are at a pivotal point in the fight for gender equality and we
hope we can count on your continued support—in your actions
and words—to fulfill Equality
Now’s vision of a world where
women and men have equal
rights under the law and full
enjoyment of those rights.
Colette De Troy, (far left) and
Sue Smalley, Ph.D.
2012 Annual Report . 21
Staff
Global
Yasmeen Hassan, Global Director
Suzanna Finley, Executive Assistant
Caroline Berger, Website &
Social Media Manager
New York
Tzili Mor, Director (Jan-Jun)
Lauren Hersh, Director
Kristen Berg, Program Officer
Catherine Brandli, Development Director
Antonia Kirkland, Legal Advisor
Toniya Katsarov, Database Manager
Priscillann Simpson, Sr. Accountant/
HR Admininstrator
Cossette Rivera, Office Manager
Mehr Qureshi, Program Officer
Amanda Sullivan, Women’s Action
Network Director
Maya Ibars, Legal Fellow
Washington, Dc
Shelby Quast, Senior Policy Advisor
Nairobi
Faiza Jama Mohamed, Director
Mary Ciugu, Office Manager
Alexandriah Muhanji, Program Officer
Caroline Muthoni Muriithi,
Program Officer
Grace Uwizeye, Program Officer
London
Jacqueline Hunt, Director
Efua Dorkenoo, Advocacy Director,
FGM Programme
Claire Dupuy, Office Manager
Andrea Matolcsi, Programme Officer
Anber Raz, Programme Officer
Brendan Wynne, Media Officer
consultants
Suad Abu-Dayyeh
Karen Asare
Catharine Bufalino
Kenneth Franzblau
Brenda Kombo
Shoji Masuzawa
Ingrid Rogers
Alice Sciara
Eugenia Temba
22 . Equality Now
Top to Bottom: New York, Nairobi and London office staff
InteRnS
London
Shanta Bhavnani
Jessica Collins
Aura Freeman
Manpreet Lally
Nairobi
Matthew Echelman
Shelia Endekwa
Sophie Henning
Muthoni Mucheru
Angeline Omollo
Valerie Uwimana
Olivia Weber
New York
Niat Amare
Rehman Azhar
Aude Coquatrix
Alexandra Jachanova
Dolezelova
Saba Haroon
Sheyda Joolharzadeh
Tessa Kelly
Maria Manickam
Zara Mian
Andriana Peck
Lauren Shohat
Janey Stephenson
Tristan Sullivan Wilson
Miranda Tomic
Nikki Weishoff
Financial Statement
Statement of FINANCIAL POSITION
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents
Investments
Contributions and grants receivable
Prepaid expenses
Property and equipment, net
Other assets
Beneficial Interest trust
Total assets
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
Grants payable
Deferred revenue
Deferred rent
Total liabilities
NET ASSETS
Unrestricted
Temporarily restricted
Total net assets
Total liabilities and net assets
2012
$1,834,059 994,583 2,345,785 12,301 36,992 41,550 97,372 $5,362,642 $77,698 - 168,343 - $246,041 2011
$1,175,403
977,448
377,788
68,278
42,754
45,114
101,896
$2,788,681
$157,312
10,000
156,175
$323,487
$2,014,131 3,102,470 $5,116,601 $5,362,642 $1,492,536
972,658
$2,465,194
$2,788,681
Unrestricted Net ASSETS
2012
Public support and revenue
Contributions and grants
Foundations
$750,759 Individual donors
439,706 Corporations
149,333 Special events, net 339,462 Donated goods and services
252,403 Investment income
21,033 Net realized currency loss
17,168 Other income
104,836 Public support and revenue before release of restrictions
2,074,700 Net assets released from restrictions
1,916,376 Total public support and revenue
3,991,076 Expenses
Program services
Sexual Violence
662,852 FGM Program
508,489 Trafficking Program
467,412 Discrimination in Law
594,225 Outreach
306,772 Donor Direct Action
338,436 Total program services
2,878,186 Supporting services
Management and general
355,290 Fund-raising
236,005 Total supporting services
591,295 Total expenses
3,469,481 (Decrease) increase in unrestricted net assets
521,595 TEMPORARILY RESTRICTED NET ASSETS
Contributions
4,046,188 Net assets released from restrictions
(1,916,376)
Increase in temporarily restricted net assets
2,129,812 Total increase in temporarily restricted and unrestricted net assets
2,651,407 Net assets: January 1
2,465,194 Net assets: December 31
$5,116,601 2011
StatementS of ACTIVITIES
$882,289
662,087
36,903
258,410
11,626
(36,110)
32,528
1,847,733
1,792,608
3,640,341
737,143
582,793
595,093
490,141
324,189
2,729,359
580,926
235,550
816,476
3,545,835
94,506
1,016,374
(1,792,608)
(776,234)
(681,728)
3,146,922
$2,465,194
2012 Annual Report . 23
20 years of
PROTECTING AND PROMOTING
THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF WOMEN
AND GIRLS AROUND THE WORLD
Take action: www.equalitynow.org/actions
Donate: www.equalitynow.org/support
Get involved: www.equalitynow.org/get-involved
Educate yourself: www.equalitynow.org/resources
NEW YORK
NAIROBI
LONDON
P.O. Box 20646
Columbus Circle Station
New York, NY 10023
USA
Ph: +1-212-586-0906
Fax: +1-212-586-1611
[email protected]
P.O. Box 2018
00202
Nairobi
KENYA
Ph: +254-20-271-9913/9832
Fax: +254-20-271-9868
[email protected]
1 Birdcage Walk
London SW1H 9JJ
UNITED KINGDOM
Ph: +44 (0) 20-7304-6902
Fax: +44 (0)20-7973-1292
[email protected]
24 . Equality Now
Registered charity,
number 1107613
Company number 4926476