Women’s Link Worldwide (WLW)

Mission:

Women’s Link Worldwide (WLW) uses the power of the law to promote social change that advances the human rights of women and girls, especially those facing multiple inequalities.

Channel Grants:

2021-24: Channel made a three year general operating support grant to Women’s Link Worldwide (WLW) to bolster the organization’s mission to use the power of the law to promote social change that advances the rights of women and girls, especially those facing multiple inequalities. With these funds, WLW will continue to focus on its two long term goals: upholding women’s sexual and reproductive rights, especially access to safe, legal and dignified abortion; and upholding and advancing the rights of women and girls to be free from gender-based violence.   

2020: Channel made a general operating support grant to Women’s Link Worldwide (WLW) to support the organization’s mission to use the power of the law to promote social change that advances the rights of women and girls, especially those facing multiple inequalities. Funds supported WLW’s national-level legal advocacy which is done by hybrid teams where WLW partners with local organizations, legal experts and communications professionals in order to use the law in innovative ways to improve the rights of women and girls.

2018, 2019: In 2018 and 2019 Channel made grants to Women’s Link Worldwide (WLW) to support the organization’s mission to use the power of the law to promote social change that advances the rights of women and girls, especially those facing multiple inequalities. The grants support WLW’s national-level legal advocacy which is done by hybrid teams where WLW partners with local organizations, legal experts and communications professionals in order to use the law in innovative ways to improve the rights of women and girls.

WLW continued to identify emerging opportunities by implementing existing laws in new and creative ways that expand what rights mean, challenging discriminatory laws and practices, and responding to rollbacks that threaten women’s rights.

2017: Channel made a grant to continue supporting Women’s Link Worldwide (WLW)’s work on sexual and reproductive rights and to continue strengthening and promoting the Gender Justice Uncovered Awards which marked their 10th anniversary in 2018.  Funds were used to support WLW’s long-term objectives to ensure that justice systems guarantee the right to be free from all forms of discrimination against women and girls and to uphold women’s sexual and reproductive rights in Latin America, especially expanding access to dignified, safe and legal abortion.

2013-2016: From 2013 to 2016, Channel made annual grants to Women’s Link Worldwide (WLW) to support the advancement of their sexual and reproductive rights work in Latin America; to deepen the organization’s approach to South-to-South learning; and to develop the Gender Justice Observatory and the Gender Justice Uncovered Awards.

The Gender Justice Observatory is a free online database of jurisprudence that contains case summaries in English and Spanish, as well as the complete texts of judicial decisions that have established a significant precedent on gender issues. The Observatory provides an analysis of legal and non legal strategies that have been used to work with tribunals in advancing human rights from a gender and intersectional perspective.

WLW also examines and spotlights court decisions with their Gender Justice Uncovered Awards. On one hand, “Gavel Awards” are given to court decisions that promote gender equality. On the other hand, “Bludgeon Awards” are given to court decisions that negatively affect gender equality. Individuals from all over the world are able to nominate court decisions and a special international jury makes the final award decisions. In addition, WLW allows online voters to determine which cases receive the “People Choice Awards” for each category.  The Awards serve as a mechanism through which the Observatory is made accessible and fun for those interested in gender equality issues.

2012: Channel made a grant to WLW to support two initiatives: 1) their development of the Gender Justice Observatory as a clearinghouse for analysis of global sexual and reproductive rights jurisprudence and 2) their efforts to build the expertise and capacity of key stakeholders around sexual and reproductive rights in Latin American and Africa, deepening the understanding that reproductive rights are a part of the human rights framework.

Impact:

Charity Navigator has listed WLW as a highly-rated women’s rights charity working to promote health, education, rights, and social services for women and girls. These charities are focused on assisting and empowering women, both at home and throughout the world.