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We began 2023 with a historic victory in the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) that will improve access to justice for millions of child and adolescent victims of sexual violence. This landmark ruling is not just a monumental victory for survivors in Bolivia: it will likely impact rape laws and their implementation throughout Latin America. Since the court’s decision, we have been inundated with requests by government officials and organizations in other Latin American countries to usher in similar legal reforms and strengthen the implementation of laws against sexual violence. You can support this wave of reforms by donating today.
This year, we also celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Solidarity of African Women’s Rights Coalition (SOAWR) and the Maputo Protocol, one of the world's most progressive and comprehensive women's rights agreements worldwide. The Maputo Protocol has been the foundation for advancing civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights for millions of women and girls across the African continent. In June, South Sudan became the 43rd nation to adopt it. As a founding member and Secretariat of the SOAWR Coalition, Equality Now has been there from the start. With your support, we will continue to work with our partners to ensure that each and every African Union member state not only adopts the protocol, but lives up to its mandate.
Last month, the European Union recommended granting Georgia its long-awaited candidate status, citing the country’s notable progress in addressing violence against women as one of the chief reasons. This is due in no small part to Equality Now’s work in Georgia and with international mechanisms over the last few years, strengthening the movement of women’s rights professionals and successfully advocating for legal reforms. Together with partners, we have trained hundreds of police officers, investigators, prosecutors, judges and lawyers on how to apply human rights law and survivor-centered approaches in rape cases. Within a year, prosecutions against perpetrators of sexual violence rose by more than 70%, and convictions rose by more than 50%. You can help us replicate this impactful approach in other Eurasian nations in 2024.
By renewing your support today, we can do even more in 2024. Each gift we receive by December 31 will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the InMaat Foundation, so please chip in today to help ensure that more women and girls can live safe, fearless and free in 2024.
With deep gratitude,
Starr Miller
Global Lead for Individual and Major Giving
PS- In case you missed it, your tax-deductible gift will be doubled!
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