OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
The Hague, 27th April, 2011
Dutch Platform Launched: Women’s Organizations for Gender & Development (WOGD)
Women’s organizations are catalysts for democracy, development and security.
Key women’s organizations in the field of gender & development have joined forces to make women’s voices heard and to ensure that their needs are taken into considerations by policy and decision makers. Gender Concerns International (GCI), Women for Water Partnership (WfWP), Women Foundation Netherlands-Darfur (VOND), and Africa Sky, have a track record of addressing (dis)empowered and victimized women, combating poverty, contributing to peace and security and to the promotion of sustainable development in general. The leadership of these organizations challenges the government - in acknowledgment of their essential contributions to development - to grant an adequate proportion of the gender budget to core women’s organizations in the sector. Despite their low budget achievements, absence of bonuses and positive press when it comes to preventing corruption and embezzlement of funds, women’s organizations are overlooked in the budget allocation for development cooperation.
The purpose of this platform is to bring awareness, to policy leaders, governmental officials, governmental and non-governmental organizations, special interest groups and stakeholders, of the adequate funds that need to be fairly allocated to core women’s organizations. WOGD brings to the forefront the restrictions that the Major Group Women face when carrying out their work and initiatives, while still maintaining a key role in international treaties and national action plans they are assigned, which is also prevalent in the Netherlands. As a representation of women’s organizations in the fields of development, female governance and democracy, water & sanitation, and poverty eradication, we have a wealth of experience and knowledge on socio-cultural conditions and know what works in practice. Furthermore, we work extensively with partners from other sectors in society such as development NGOs, Science & Technology and the business community. Internationally, the Netherlands has always taken the lead in promoting women’s rights and equal participation in all spheres of life. We appeal to our government to practice their leadership also at the home-front by not only acknowledging our role on paper, but adequately supporting us through the available gender budget.
For further information please contact:
Rachel Rotteveel
Advocacy & International Relations
Gender Concerns International
Phone: 00 31 (070) 4445082
Laan van Meerdervoort 70 2517 AN, The Hague
Email: rachel@genderconcerns.org Site: http://www.genderconcerns.org