October 2025

Empowering Women in Politics: Standing Against Violence From 23–24 October 2025, the Network of Ethiopian Women’s Associations (NEWA), in collaboration with UN Women, hosted the second cascading training session at Robi Hotel, Adama.38 women politicians from the Joint Council of Women Political Party Members came together to deepen their understanding of Violence Against Women in Politics and Elections (VAWiP/E).The training created a safe space for participants to share lived experiences, unpack the realities of VAWiP/E, and collaboratively develop action plans to combat Violence Against Women in Politics and Elections.As part of the outcomes, participants compiled examples of hate speech targeting women in politics—soon to be shared with Meta/Facebook to protect women from hate speech in the digital platforms of Meta.This initiative is a powerful step toward amplifying women’s voices, protecting their rights, and fostering inclusive political participation.

GBV-CE Consultative Workshop | Strengthening Collaboration to End GBV From October 23–25, 2025, NEWA, in partnership with UN Women and the Anti-Gender-Based Violence Campaign Ethiopia (GBV-CE), convened a three-day consultative workshop at Pyramid Hotel, Bishoftu.The workshop brought together GBV-CE member organizations to strengthen coordination, share experiences, and chart collective actions toward ending gender-based violence in Ethiopia.Participants reflected on achievements and challenges across advocacy, research, prevention, legal response, and rehabilitation, while developing actionable plans aligned with the GBV-CE Strategic Plan and the upcoming 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.In her remarks, Mrs. Saba G/Medihn, Executive Director of NEWA, emphasized shared responsibility in the fight against GBV, while UN Women’s representative, Mrs. Hilina Atilaw, reaffirmed the need for continued collaboration.As the workshop concluded, participants renewed their commitment to building stronger partnerships, enhancing response mechanisms, and amplifying their collective voice to end all forms of violence against women and girls.Together, we stand for a future free from fear, free from harm, and full of hope.

Ethiopian Girls Manifesto Launched and Handover at Landmark Event in Addis Ababa Addis Ababa, Ethiopia -October 21, 2025 – In a landmark event held at the Skylight Hotel, the Ethiopian Girls Manifesto is officially launched and handed over to key national stakeholders, marking a significant step forward in the promotion of girls’ rights and advancing girls education in Ethiopia. The event brought together regional and national girls representatives, government officials, civil society organizations, youth representatives, development partners, and members of the media to witness the unveiling of the Manifesto an advocacy document developed by girls, for all Ethiopia girls. The Manifesto captures the voices, aspirations, and demands of Ethiopian girls from diverse backgrounds, calling for actionable commitments in areas such as education, health, safety and protection, and leadership. The development of the Ethiopian Girls Manifesto was a participatory process that involved consultations with girls from all regions of Ethiopia. Through focus group discussions and workshops, the girls shared their experiences and call for action to change, which were synthesized into a unified declaration of rights and demands. The official handover of the Manifesto to representatives from the Ministry of Education (MOE) Ministry of Women and Social Affairs (MOWSA), House of People Representative and other relevant bodies, a call to action for the government and all stakeholders to implement policies and programs that address the needs and priorities identified by girls. This initiative was organized by Network of Ethiopian Women Associations (NEWA) supported by Malala-Fund, who reaffirmed their commitment to working alongside Ethiopian girls to ensure their voices continue to shape national and local agendas. The event concluded with the screening of documentaries, testimonials from young girls, and presentations, followed by the official launch of the Manifesto by the Ministry of Education (MoE), the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs (MoWSA), and the House of People’s Representatives (HPR). The ceremony ended with the dissemination of the document, outlining the path forward for girls’ education in Ethiopia.

A proud moment for NEWA! The UN, African Union, and the Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security have recognized NEWA’s peacebuilding works-highlighting the establishment of the Ethiopian Women Peacebuilders (EWPB) initiative and the implementation of Coffee for Peace initiatives, during the Africa Presidential 25th Anniversary of WPS event in Namibia. It’s been a short memory that AU publicized NEWA’s work on ‘She stands for peace’publication recently.We’re deeply honored by this recognition and remain committed to empowering women in the Peace amd Security Space and contributing for the advancement of peace across Ethiopia

NEWA and UN Women Launch Cascading Training to Combat Violence Against Women in Politics Adama, Ethiopia — October 10, 2025The Network of Ethiopian Women’s Associations (NEWA), in collaboration with UN Women, has taken a significant step toward strengthening inclusive governance through targeted training on Violence Against Women in Politics and Elections (VAWiP/E). As part of the UN Women-funded initiative “Empowerment and Representation: Advancing Political Inclusion for Women and Persons with Disabilities in Ethiopia,” NEWA conducted a foundational three-day training from September 1–3, designed to be cascaded nationwide. The first cascading session was held on October 9–10 at Robi Hotel in Adama, engaging 35 women politicians from the Addis Ababa Political Parties Joint Council Women’s Wing. The training aimed to: Enhance awareness and institutional responsiveness to VAWiP/E Equip women politicians with tools to identify, prevent, and respond to violence Document hate speech and online abuse targeting women in political spaces Share evidence with Meta/Facebook to promote digital accountability Strengthen advocacy and protection mechanisms Foster peer learning and collective action Key topics included: Gender equality and inclusive governance UN Women’s global VAWiP/E training framework Online violence and digital safety strategies Electoral Management Bodies’ roles across the electoral cycle Police and security sector responsibilities in prevention Political party policies, inclusive cultures, and cross-party collaboration Development of participant-led action plans This initiative marks a critical effort to safeguard women’s political participation and promote a more equitable democratic process in Ethiopia

NEWA Conducts Training on Transformative Leadership and Gender Equality! NEWA has successfully organized a three-day capacity-building training on “Transformative Leadership and Gender Equality” with the generous financial support of CST Ethiopia. The training took place from 02–04 October 2025 at Adulala Resort, Bishoftu and brought together 23 participants (18 women, 5 men, and 4 persons with disabilities), including management team members from various women’s rights organizations. The training aimed to enhance participants’ knowledge, skills, and leadership capacity in advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment. Throughout the three days, participants engaged in interactive sessions that covered a range of topics, including leadership and management fundamentals, productivity and development, gender equality and equity, intersectionality in practice, and organizational leadership and internal practices.The session also explored practical strategies for mainstreaming gender and empowering women within women’s rights organizations to ensure gender equality, equity, and inclusion.NEWA sincerely appreciates CST Ethiopia for its valuable partnership and support, and extends heartfelt thanks to all participants for their active engagement and commitment. Together, we continue to foster transformative leadership that drives lasting progress toward gender equality and inclusive development.

A Big Step Forward for EYWV! Following the She Leads Project Closure and Girls & Young Women Program, NEWA hosted the EYWV Next Action for Sustainability Consultation Meeting at Sapphire Addis Hotel on On September 24, 2025.This gathering marked a turning point for the Ethiopian Young Women Voice (EYWV), bringing together passionate young leaders to shape the movement’s future.The day opened with inspiring remarks from Ms. Soliana Tilahun, former EYWV President and board member, followed by an enriching experience-sharing session from Ms. Ilham Mohammed, current EYWV President, who reflected on her journey to Geneva Dived into: Reviewing the EYWV By-Law Exploring sustainability strategies Group work on designing a clear action plan with responsibilities Drafting a concept note for donor engagement This consultation was more than just a meeting, it was a commitment to continue amplifying the voices of girls and young women and ensure the sustainability of the movement beyond She Leads.Together, we are not closing a chapter, but shaping the next one with stronger voices, clearer vision, and sustainable action.