WLIF: Building on Strategic Opportunities for Change

Kenya
In response to the 2007 violence in Kenya, WLIF mobilized 75 women leaders from the International Women Leaders Global Security Summit community, asking them to support women activists on the ground in Kenya. As a follow-up, WLIF also convened women activists in New York, including 20 women leaders from Kenya, during the United Nations Commission of the Status of Women, to take stock of women’s participation in resolution of conflict in Kenya.

As a result of the meeting, WLIF mobilized funding to support the Kenya Women’s Coalition, a group of Kenyan women who came together across political and ethnic divides with a common agenda for peace. This Coalition worked closely with Graca Machel during the peace negotiations to ensure that women’s voices and concerns were heard at the table.

Zimbabwe
WLIF has supported The Women’s Trust of Zimbabwe, an NGO promoting women’s participation in decision-making. Its conference brought women of Zimbabwe and the sub-region together to develop a national strategy for women’s engagement in governance structures and in rebuilding Zimbabwe.

Partnership with The Elders: Every Human Has Rights Campaign
Realizing Rights and WLIF worked with The Elders on the Every Human Has Rights campaign, which commemorated the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. During March 2008, the campaign highlighted women’s rights and those championing them across the world.