Author name: NEWA

Official Launch of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence NEWA, in collaboration with the GBV Campaign Ethiopia and UN Women, officially launched the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence at the Radisson Blu Hotel.The event brought together key stakeholders, advocates, and experts to amplify voices and strengthen the collective fight against GBV in Ethiopia. Welcoming Remarks Ms. Saba G/Medihn, Executive Director of NEWA, emphasized:”This event marks the beginning of our 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. Together, we amplify our voices and strengthen efforts to combat GBV across Ethiopia. Through collective advocacy, we aim to drive meaningful change and empower women nationwide. We must focus on prevention, revise existing strategies, and rethink our messaging as women continue to face GBV—even publicly. Together, we must accelerate and strengthen our efforts.” Opening Remarks Ms. Yelfigne Abegaz,, UN Women National Program Coordinator, highlighted:”GBV affects women and girls of all ages. Data shows that 1 in 3 women experiences GBV in her lifetime, with 23% of women aged 15-49 suffering physical harm. Alarmingly, only 10% of cases are reported. This underscores the urgent need for stronger policies, effective implementation, and continuous advocacy. Together, we must work tirelessly to achieve a future free from GBV.” Workshop Presentations Beijing+30: A Focus on Ending Violence Against WomenPresented by Ms. Bezawit Bekele, UN Women Program Specialist, this session explored the Beijing+30 framework, commemorating 30 years since the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995). The session focused on advancing women’s human rights, eliminating violence, addressing poverty, improving education and healthcare access, and fostering women’s leadership. It also discussed gaps and opportunities for strengthening advocacy against GBV. Women’s Human Rights in Ethiopia: General Context and Conflict SettingMs. Rabel Desalegn provided an overview of progress made in establishing one-stop centers and promoting economic stability for survivors. Challenges such as traditional justice issues, human trafficking, and gaps in government accountability were also highlighted, along with recommendations for prevention, rehabilitation, and systemic change. Launch of the Anti-GBV Campaign Ethiopia Strategic and Action Plan As a significant milestone, the Anti-GBV Campaign Group Strategic and Action Plan was officially launched. In her presentation, Mrs. Hibret stressed the importance of collaboration among civil society, government, and international partners to create a lasting impact. The plan focuses on survivor-centered approaches and community-based solutions to empower women and girls while driving actions and conversations to end GBV. Oath CeremonyThe event concluded with a Renewal of Oath Ceremony, led by representatives from Sara Justice, Mujujugo Loka, and the Anti-GBV Campaign Ethiopia. These leaders guided all participants in reaffirming their dedication to ending violence against women and girls in Ethiopia.

NEWA provided a capacity building training to Addis Ababa women Political party leaders and members The Network of Ethiopian Women’s Associations (NEWA) in collaboration with Demo Finland and Addis Ababa Political Parties Joint Council Women’s Wing has been facilitated two days capacity-building training; from 14-15 November 2024 on Social Norms and Political Culture. The number of participants is 49 (all female) drawn from 16 political parties. The training is conducting here in Addis Ababa at Harmony Hotel with the financial support of Political Parties of Finland for Democracy- Demo Finland. This training is one of the activities of our collaborative project called “Supporting Women Political Participation in Ethiopia”. Similar training provided for Benshangul Gumuz and Ormia Regional State women politicians on October 4-5th and 10-11th, 2024 respectively.The overall purpose of this training is to enhance women political party representatives understanding on Social Norms, and Political Culture so that they can discover similar challenges within the social and public sphere by themselves and contribute for the prevention and response of such challenges both at national and local level. While the specific objectives are:• Equip participants with in-depth knowledge of the social norms and political culture of Ethiopia.• Foster collaborative learning among participants to ensure a cohesive understanding on women political issues and make it as their common agenda.Some of the topics covered in this training are:• The basic concept of gender and politics• The global, regional, and national normative foundations of women’s political participation• Women and politics in Ethiopia• Social norms that hinder women political participation• Political cultures and women’s political participation, etc.

Congratulation! NEWA Officially Launched National Action Research Report on Determining the Status and Priorities of Ethiopian Women NEWA, in collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs and Oxfam Ethiopia, with  the financial support from the European Union(EU), has proudly launched a groundbreaking national assessment report on Ethiopian Women’s Status and Priorities. This extensive 22-month research project involved interviews with over 36,000 Households  across all regions, zones and city administrations and 480 women were organized in 24 focus group discussions, providing a detailed and comprehensive understanding of the current state of Ethiopian women. During the the high-level event, Mrs. Saba also touched on the areas of peace and security, with a focus on the unique challenges women face in conflict settings and their role in peace building. Access to justice, another critical area, addresses the legal challenges women encounter, from reporting rights violations to navigating judicial processes. Mrs. Saba emphasized the report’s role in bridging the significant data gaps that have previously hindered comprehensive action on women’s issues. Mrs. Saba acknowledge EU for believing in NEWA and bringing NEWA in the forefront on this action research implementation this purely shows how EU provide attention to localization agenda. On top  Mr. Leopold Kortekaas, Program Director for Oxfam in Ethiopia, emphasizes the importance of conducting research that provides insights into the current status and priorities of women in Ethiopia. Such research not only highlights the challenges women face but also helps identify and prioritize areas where intervention is most needed. By examining the specific needs and aspirations of women, this type of research allows organizations and policymakers to craft targeted, impactful initiatives aimed at improving gender equality and supporting women’s rights in the country.  In another hand H.E. Dr. Ergoge Tesfaye, Minister, Ministry of Women and Social Affairs, was present at the event and delivered a keynote address, emphasizing the critical nature of this research in addressing data scarcity surrounding women’s issues. H.E noted that, while women represent more than half of the Ethiopian population, their concerns often lack adequate representation in policy-making. Dr. Ergoge highlighted the “power of data” and the potential impact of this assessment in guiding evidence-based policy-making and shaping government priorities to meet the urgent needs identified by the research. Dr. Ergoge affirmed that this comprehensive national assessment will enable the government to adopt policies that reflect the reality of women’s experiences and challenges, contributing to targeted, impactful interventions. More on this H.E. Mrs. Sofie From-Emmesberger Ambassador Designate of the European Union Delegations to Ethiopia also addressed that congratulation for our success and this is big research that can change different girls and women livelihood across the country. And this assessment support the effort of gender equality through showing or indicating the priorities of women and knowing their status. H.E also highlights the relevance of having such kind of huge data for policy maker, implementers and development partners.  The event concluded with the official release of this landmark report, a testament to collaborative efforts and a major step forward in understanding and addressing the challenges faced by Ethiopian women. This achievement marks a proud moment in the journey toward gender equality and empowerment in Ethiopia. In the dissemination and launching event, there were representatives of different Ministries, Regional government Bureaus, UN agencies, Embassies, International Organizations, NEWA’s members and CSOs. For more informationhttps://www.fanabc.com/english/a-study-report-on-determining-the-ethiopian-womens-status-priorities-unveiled/

EYWV has officially assigned members in Tigray region NEWA is happy to share that on September 23, Ethiopian Young Women Voice (EYWV), has officially assigned members in Tigray region. Despite the challenges of the post-conflict in recent years, we are proud to expand our reach to the region and bring together young women to participate in advocacy and leadership. For the first time, EYWV will now have members in all regions, it is a significant step forward in ensuring that the Girls and Young Women’s Voices in all regions of Ethiopia are heard and represented.   To support this effort, we have also formed a technical committee of dedicated individuals who will provide strategic guidance and help coordinate our initiatives in the region. We exchanged experiences from existing members and new group that help the new regional members  can think in different directions. We are thrilled to share this milestone with all She Leads members, and we look forward to the positive change on this expansion.   Ethiopian Young Women Voice (EYWV) would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to rise and shine.

The girls’ festival was hosted by NEWA jointly with She-Leads consortium members NEWA jointly with She-Leads consortium members successfully hosted the girls’ festival from September 18th to 20th. We are proud to announce that 9 Ethiopian Young Women Voice (EYWV) members participated in this incredible 3-day event from South Ethiopia, Benishangul-Gumuz, and Addis Abeba.The festival provided a remarkable platform for girls and young women advocates to be together, connect, and build a stronger movement. Allowing advocates to share best practices, reflect on progress, and amplify their voices in leadership and decision-making spaces.The Panel Discussions were performed on key advocacy topics:– Talent Sectors showcasing creative skills– Experience sharing to learn from one another– Inspirational Talks by role models– Networking Opportunities to build connections– Mentorship Sessions offering guidance and support– and mental health and well-being.Most importantly the experience-sharing session was a good bond among GYW and identifying our life path and how to face similar problems.We extend our warmest cheers to all participants and the organizer, especially EYWV members, for their active involvement in this festival. Together, we are shaping a brighter future for girls and young women in Ethiopia.

Joint Monitoring Workshop on Gender-Responsive Planning & Budgeting in Dire Dawa On October 1-2, 2024, a dynamic two-day joint monitoring session was held in Dire Dawa. The session focused on “gender-responsive planning and budgeting” as a vital step toward gender equality and women’s empowerment. Over 40 participants, including planning and budgeting experts, WROs, and social affairs representatives from seven woredas, collaborated to assess progress and address challenges within their institutions. Key initiatives highlighted:  Decision-makers’ sensitization and staff training. Gender gap analysis and budget adjustments to meet women’s needs. Boosting women’s participation in decision-making and economic activities. Enhanced M&E tools for tracking gender parity in program benefits. Progresses Made More women are aware of their rights. Community support for women’s rights is growing. Women have actively participated in government, economic cooperatives, and resource management. Despite successes, gaps in “gender-sensitive M&E tools” and “reporting quality” remain. Participants called for continued training to fully integrate gender-focused planning at all levels.

High Level Policy Dialogue Workshop at the Federal Level on the Policy Findings and Recommendations on Girls Education was conducted As part of Education Champion Network project activity, the Network of Ethiopian Women’s Associations (NEWA) in partnership with MALALA Fund, organized the high-level policy dialogue workshop at the federal on the policy findings and recommendations on girls’ education. The project aims to improve education policy actions and implementations and address emerging girls’ education needs and during and post-conflict contexts in Ethiopia. Moreover, to support effective advocacy and coalition building strategies for policy changes that strengthen educational institutions. The workshop was held at Aya Hotel, on September 6, 2024.