Middle East
Centre for Women's Rights (MECWR)
Introduction
The past year has been a very productive year for the Middle East
Centre for Women’s Rights. We have continued and developed existing
activities and set up new projects. We have begun for the first time
since we established our organisation to reach women within Middle
Eastern countries and to establish projects with these women.
We have been widely approached and contacted by many individuals and
organisations. We were approached through our website, newspapers,
emails, campaigns on line attracted widespread attention from over
the world, seminars, TV channels in Arabic and in English, media,
press interviews, radios, mass meetings in Europe and Middle Eastern
countries such as Iraq, Qatar and Tunisia.
In addition to our successful work with our partner Kurdistan
Refugee Women’s organisation in the UK, Asian organisations have
been in touch with us asking to work together in partnership from
Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Our new projects have developed with wonderful efforts made by women
such Houzan Mahmood who has produced a fortnightly newspaper, which
has been distributed to more than 70,000 individuals over the world.
Invitations from Italy, Germany, Austria, US and others are extended
to us to take part to speak about women in and from Middle Eastern
countries.
This is an exciting time for our organisation and we hope to be able
to build on the successes over the last year in order to develop our
work for the benefit of all women in Middle Eastern communities.
What is
MECWR ?
MECWR is a women rights organisation striving to achieve equal
rights for women within Middle Eastern communities. MECWR was
established in 1999 by a group of Middle Eastern women, all of whom
have been active within women’s rights work within the Middle East.
MECWR is based in London and focuses our efforts within the UK and
Middle Eastern countries. MECWR takes a stand against all forms of
violence and discrimination against women.
We are a user-led organisation and have worked to ensure a broad mix
of members from different Middle Eastern countries on the Management
Committee. The project is open to people of all ages and men as well
as women. We publicise widely for people to join our committee and
help manage our work. We recruit volunteers for our organisation who
come from a wide mix of Middle Eastern countries.
Aims of
MECWR
The purpose of our organization and all our activities are about
achieving equal opportunities and rights for women. We try not only
to make women aware but encourage and inspire them to stand up and
demand change. We are trying to reach women who are hidden,
frightened and abused which means we have to work with many other
partner organizations who have good links into their communities. We
have strong links with women’s advice and support organizations who
have daily contact with women experiencing difficulties. They
promote our work and how to contact us. Our aims are simple and
clear:
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To expose all forms of
violation of women’s rights within Middle Eastern communities in
the UK and the Middle Eastern countries.
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To raise awareness
about women’s rights within Middle Eastern communities.
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To enable the voices
and experiences of women to be heard by policy makers and the
wider community.