News

NEWA held a two-day training on Advocacy and Communication Strategies for women-led and women’s rights organizations NEWA held a two-day training on Advocacy and Communication Strategies for women-led and women’s rights organizations on 10–11 December 2025, with support from UNICEF.The training brought together 21 participants, helping them strengthen their advocacy skills, communicate more effectively, and better influence policy. They also learned how advocacy can raise awareness on FGM and Child Marriage, and gained practical skills in strategy development, communication, and media engagement.

NEWA, together with Oxfam GB Ethiopia held an Awareness Raising Workshop on the Implementation of the New Child Care Center Directive. On December 11, 2025 at Mado Hotel, Addis Ababa, NEWA, together with Oxfam GB Ethiopia under the WE-CARE Phase V Project- held an Awareness Raising Workshop on the Implementation of the New Child Care Center Directive.The session featured insightful presentation on the New Child Care Center Directive by Mr. Nebiyou Dejene, Desk Head for Gender and Social Affairs at MoWSA, and Mr. Eniyew Tamiru- Gender and social affairs mainstreaming senior expert MoWSA, highlighting: Child Right Instruments/Legal and Policy Frameworks Benefits of Daycare Services Child Daycare Center in Ethiopia The need for system Strengthening  Directive No 1084/2025 The workshop aims to build commitment across sectors for the effective and institutional adoption of the Child Care Center Directive, ensuring that women with care responsibilities are recognized, supported, and represented in policy and budget decisions.Together, we’re working to recognize, reduce, redistribute, and represent, transforming Unpaid Care and Domestic Work for a more equitable future.

EWRA, in collaboration with NEWA, hosted a convening to commemorate Human Rights Day and mark the closing of the 16 Days of Activism On December 10, 2025, EWRA, in collaboration with NEWA, hosted a convening to commemorate Human Rights Day and mark the closing of the 16 Days of Activism. The event brought together diverse stakeholders to strengthen rights-based approaches to preventing and responding to gender-based violence (GBV).Participants engaged in a presentation on GBV as a human rights issue, highlighting persistent challenges in prevention and response. The discussion underscored that meaningful progress against GBV requires tackling its root causes, with gender inequality at the core, and building integrated responses through partnerships with community institutions, including Idirs.From reflective dialogue to collective commitments on the “Branches of Change” Human Rights Tree, the convening reinforced our shared mission: to protect women and girls, support women human rights defenders, and advance gender equality in all spaces.Happy International Human Rights Day!

NEWA in collaboration with Tilla Association of HIV Positive Women, supported women living with HIV and survivors of SGBV with essential food supplies 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence: Awareness Creation Session on the prevalence and response of GBV & Provision of food support for women living with HIV and survivors of SGBV to enhance their livelihoodsOn December 08, 2025, as part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender- BAsed Violence, NEWA in collaboration with Tilla Association of HIV Positive Women, supported 62 women living with HIV and survivors of SGBV with essential food supplies.An awareness session to strengthen GBV prevention and response was also hosted. Participants shared their lived experiences and called for survivor-centered services, free legal and medical support, and expanded shelter services.NEWA’s team additionally visited the AWSAD Hawassa Shelter and donated sanitary pads to survivors — standing in solidarity and supporting their dignity and well-being.Together, we continue the movement to end GBV and uplift vulnerable women.

EWPB regional initiative in Tigray, with the support of the NEWA, conducted a two-day training on the role and active participation of women in post-war peacebuilding in Tigray As part of the Ethiopian Women Peace Builders (EWPB) regional initiative in Tigray, with the support of the Network for Ethiopian Women’s Association (NEWA) through its ‘’Building Localization and Resilience for the Women’s Peace and Security Agenda’’, a two-day training was conducted on the role and active participation of women in post-war peacebuilding in Tigray. The training engaged community women from the seven sub-cities of Mekelle.The purpose of the training was to deepen understanding of women’s leadership in sustainable peacebuilding and conflict resolution, strengthen advocacy for inclusive peace processes, and equip participants with practical tools for dialogue, reconciliation, and solidarity. By fostering networks among women peacebuilders, the initiative contributes to building a resilience and localization of women peace and security in the Tigray region.

High Level Policy Dialogue on Ending all Forms of Violence Against Women and Girls On December 05, 2025 a High Level Policy Dialogue on Ending all Forms of Violence Against Women and Girls: Advancing the AU Convention and Addressing Digital Violence was held at Hilton Hotel, Addis AbabaTheme: UNiTE to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls in AfricaOpening remarks were given by representatives from stakeholders organizing the event. The opening segment hosted by Ms. Lindiwe Ngwenya, Program Specialist, UN Women Liaison office to AU and ECA gave an insight on the issue of technology-facilitated gender-based violence, providing valuable insights into its implications, challenges, and aims to raise awareness and foster solutions to combat this pressing social issue.Ms. Saba Gebremedhin, executive Director of NEWA, HE Christine Pirenne, Ambassador of Embassy of Netherlands to Ethiopia, HE Adam Drury, Ambassador of UK to the AU, Ms. Doris Mpoumou, Representative of UN Women Liaison Office to the AU and UNECA, and Mr. Zekarias Desalegn, Representative from Ministry of Women and Social Affairs, Ethiopia, CEO for women’s right protection and response, head of GBV prevention and response desk; protection cluster and GBV AOR lead shared their insights and suggestions on addressing gender-based violence in both online and offline contexts, highlighting the importance of adopting and amending the African Union convention to enhance protective measures.A Youth panel discussion spotlighting youth led solutions; apps, campaigns, and policy advocacy from across Africa addressing digital VAWG was moderated by Ms. Ethiopis Tadesse. LeonoraTima, Founder and Managing Director of GRIT and Zuzi AI Chatbot from South Africa, Omowumi Ogunrotimi, Executive Lead, Gender Mobile Initiative and ‘CampusPal’ App from Nigeria, and Sumaiyya Juma, AGCCI young Women Ambassador from Kenya presented their innovations that are set to tackle TFGBV in their respective regions. They showcased the platforms they created, highlighting their impacts and outlining future opportunities.Policy Dialogue for actionable recommendations commenced with panelists after a video message from NEWA. Rita Fortunato Baptista, Political Officer, Strategic Communication, Youth and Gender EU Delegation to the AU, Ms. Beletshachew, representative from UN Women Liaison Office to the AU and UNECA, Ms. Saba Gebremedhin, executive Director of NEWA, and Mr. Zekarias Desalegn, Representative from Ministry of Women and Social Affairs, Ethiopia, CEO for women’s right protection and response, head of GBV prevention and response desk; protection cluster and GBV AOR lead discussed various policy interventions and advocacy efforts implemented to address gender-based violence, highlighting the additional challenges posed by online violence alongside existing offline abuse. This dual burden complicates the landscape of violence, necessitating a comprehensive approach that recognizes and mitigates the impact of both forms of aggression.A closing remark was given by Ms. Karin STANGHED, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to the AU which marked an end to the event.

NEWA, in partnership with IPPF & UNTF Hosts National Launch Workshop for the 34th Global 16-Days Campaign In partnership with the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and the United Nations Trust Fund (UNTF), NEWA has organized a national launching workshop of the to mark the global observance of the campaign for the 34th time under the international theme, “UNITE to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls.” Ethiopia joins the global movement for the 20th year, commemorating the national theme,”A Society with Zero Tolerance for Violence for Generation Building!!” (ጥቃትን የማይታገስ ማህበረሰብ ለትውልድ እንገንባ!!”).Aligned with these global and national efforts, NEWA, and anti-Gender-Based Violence Campaign Ethiopia (GBV-CE), has officially launched its advocacy and awareness movement under the theme, “Let My Sister Live a Dignified Life and Thrive for Her Dream.” “እህቴ በህይወት በክብር ትኑር ህልሟን ታሳካ” This campaign has called upon all sectors to work together in addressing the root causes of gender-based violence and to promote women’s dignity, security, and equality.On November 26, 2025, a half-day launching of the 16 Days of Activism event took place at Inter Luxury Hotel, Addis Ababa. The program brought together senior government officials, development partners, Women right organizations, and members of the diplomatic community to reaffirm shared priorities, strengthen coordination, and advance collective action toward creating a suitable and violence free environment for women and girls.

NEWA in collaboration with UNICEF & FON has brought together government structures and Religious leaders NEWA in collaboration with UNICEF & FON has brought together government structures and Religious leaders at Aya Hotel on November 19 for a full-day interface meeting dedicated to Eliminating FGM in Ethiopia.A powerful lineup of research findings, discussions, and collaborative commitments—all aimed at creating lasting change.Together, we move toward a safer, more equitable future for women and girls.

የኢትዮጵያ ሴቶች ለሰላም ግንባታ ከኢ.ሴ.ማ.ቅ ጋር በመተባበር በአማራ ክልል የማህበረሰብ ተኮር ተቋማት መሪዎችና የመንግስት አካላት ስልጠና ሰጠ ጥቅምት 22- 23/2018 ዓ.ም የኢትዮጵያ ሴቶች ለሰላም ግንባታ ከACCORD፣ ከUKFCDO እና ከኢትዮጵያ ሴቶች ማህበራት ቅንጅት(ኢ.ሴ.ማ.ቅ) ጋር በመተባበር በአማራ ክልል በማእከላዊ ጎንደር ዞን ሶስት ወረዳወች እንዲሁም ጎንደር ከተማ የማህበረሰብ ተኮር ተቋማት መሪዎችና የመንግስት አካላት ስልጠና ሰጠ። ስልጠናው የግጭት አስተዳደርና ሰላም ግንባታ እና ሴቶች በሰላም ግንባታ ያላቸው ሚና በሚሉ አርእስቶች የተሰጠ ሲሆን የሴቶች የሰላም ግንባታ አለም አቀፍ አገር አቀፍና በአካባቢያችን ያላቸውን ተሞክሮ የስልጠናው አካል ሆኖ ቀርቧል። ሰልጣኞች በተፈጠረላቸው ግንዛቤ ደስተኛ እንደሆኑና በሰላም ግንባታ ዙሪያ ባለቤት ሆነው መፈጸም እንዳለባቸው እንዲሁም በሰላም ግንባታ የሴቶችን ተሳትፎ ለማሳደግ እንደሚሰሩ ገልጸዋል። በመጨረሻም ስልጠናውን እንደአሰልጣኞች ስልጠና ቆጥረው በየአካባቢያቸው ስልጠናውን እንደሚያስቀጥሉት እና ሴቶች ባላቸው አደረጃጀት ተጠቅመው ቡና ለሰላምን ተግባራዊ ማድረግ እንዳለባቸው ተግባብተናል።

Peacebuilding Culture & Gender Roles Training in Bilate Zuria, Sidama Region On October 31- November 1, a four-day training, discussion, and experience-sharing session was held in Balela, Bilate Zuria Woreda of the Sidama Region, organized by Ethiopian Women Peacebuilders (EWPBs) representatives Dr. Berhan and Wudnesh. Supported by UKFCDO, ACCORD, and NEWA, the initiative aimed to strengthen collaboration between community elders and youth for sustainable peacebuilding and conflict resolution. The session was officially opened by Ms. Yididya Abebe, Program Coordinator at NEWA, who highlighted the importance of active and meaningful participation of women in peacebuilding.Four respected community elders, three women and one man, were selected for their extensive peacebuilding experience and community acceptance to share knowledge with 20 youth representatives (10 young women and 10 young men) from 20 kebeles of Bilate Zuria.Before the experience-sharing began, the EWPBs facilitators introduced core principles of peacebuilding and conflict resolution. Elders then shared insights into Sidama’s traditional peacebuilding systems, including the Sera System, Afini Reconciliation System, Gudumaalee Council, and Arara Reconciliation System, all of which have historically supported conflict resolution in the community.They also emphasized the Sidama principle of “Halaale” — a cultural value rooted in truth and peace. Elders reflected on how, over the past 10 years, these indigenous mechanisms, alongside religious councils and legal structures, have been used to address various conflicts both within and outside the woreda. They noted that no single mechanism alone could fully resolve conflicts, highlighting the importance of combining approaches.The Youth were reminded of the Sidama culture of calm dialogue, consultation with elders, and thoughtful decision-making as key to maintaining peace. The session reinforced the significance of preserving traditional knowledge and cultural customs in promoting sustainable peace and reconciliation.To conclude, participants took part in a training on gender roles and communication skills, aimed at enhancing their capacity in peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and leading community dialogues.