PRIORITIES FOR THE STRATEGIC PLAN (2006 – 2009)

EXTERNAL PRIORITIES

Eradicating poverty and hunger – In order for women to realize their full potential, they must have equal access to economic activities.  GNOW works to change the tradition of gendered division of labour and create a climate, including one free from sexual harassment, which would allow women to engage in economic activity of their choice.

Building awareness of women’s rights – Women’s human rights are not yet fully accepted and practiced by all.

Engaging the youth for the achievement of gender equality – Young women and men of the next generation are being involved in programmes in making decisions for the improvement of their lives, taking a stand for their rights and the achievement of gender equality.

Supporting women and girls who are victims and survivors of gender-based violence – GNOW is working to reform responses to gender-based violence (legal, procedural and medical) so they are more relevant to the realities.  Issues not accommodated within law are to be addressed, such as sexual harassment and marital rape.

Advancing women’s health – Women are being encouraged to take their own health seriously and so take responsibility for it, primarily through preventative measures for lifestyle related diseases such as hypertension and some cancers and addressing  HIV/AIDS through raising awareness of women’s sexual rights, including the right  to negotiate safe sex.

INTERNAL PRIORITY

Strengthening GNOW as an institution – to create a sustainable organisation in order to achieve the other priorities, GNOW also focuses on:

Institutional strengthening

Outreach and interface with affiliates

Building the financial capacity of GNOW

Obtain property to house the office and provide services

MAIN TYPES OF ACTIVITIES

The main activities of GNOW include

-Lobbying and advocacy, e.g.

• Representing the voice of women at meetings and consultations
• Organising forums for discussion and sensitization on issues related to the advancement of women

-Training and capacity building, e.g.

• Developing the skills of personnel and its member organisations to meet growing demands
• Providing training to groups and facilitating panel discussions, workshops, etc

-Direct intervention, e.g.

• Facilitating women’s entry into the construction industry
• Creating a support network for women experiencing gender-based violence
• Holding “Gender, Sexuality and HIV/AIDS” workshops for teachers, conferences for students and sensitization activities for the public

MAIN PROJECTS SINCE 2005

1.Rebuilding Grenada with Gender Equality – This project had several components:

-Encouraging women to enter the construction industry – over 400 women participated in training courses.

-Providing Life Skills Training to the participants in various courses run through the USAID Grant.The numbers trained were 280 women and 88 men in Construction courses, and 108 women and 9 men in Hospitality Arts courses.

-Motivational meetings with women in construction – 58 women and 8 men participated.

-Conducted research among women trained and working in constructing, looking at their needs, problems, goals, etc.

-Conducting gender awareness sessions with trainers and builders.

Work continues in this field with a “Tools for Women in Construction” project.

1.Conducting Community Leadership Courses – five groups from Grenada, mainly St Mark’s, and several in Carriacou (through the Ministry of Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs) benefited.

2.Gender, Sexuality and HIV/AIDS Projects – a behaviour modification and awareness programme aimed at changing the gendered ideologies about sexuality and empowering women to negotiate safe sex.

-Conducted training for HFLE subject leaders and other teachers of secondary and primary schools.

-Held youth conferences with students of secondary and primary schools.

-Developed “Women’s Sexual Rights”.

-Created and distributed informational leaflets and brochures.

3.Commemoration Activities for International Women’s Day (March  and the Day to Protest Violence Against Women (16 Days of Activism from November 25 to December 10)

4.Creating a support network for women experiencing gender-based violence – This project has begun with three main components
-Formation and maintenance of an informal Community Support Network of Volunteers throughout Grenada and Carriacou
-Training of Police Officers on “Responding to Domestic Violence”
-Developed proposed legislation on sexual harassment
-Develop protocols for dealing with domestic violence and sexual assaults by the police and health care personnel (in progress)

5.Management of CARIWA Project – Accessed funding and implemented a regional project entitled “Dealing with Sexuality and Sexual Rights in the Caribbean – the key to Controlling the Spread of HIV”, involving a regional conference and meetings as well as small individual sub-projects in various countries.