Rise Up Leaders’ Advocacy Wins Impact Millions Across the Globe
Program
Highlights
In 2022 Rise Up Leaders helped pass 8 laws, policies or programs affecting over 3 million people. Here are a few of the incredible wins in India, South Africa and Nigeria.
3M people affected by the laws, policies or programs passed with the help of Rise Up Leaders
3.6K+ children and teenage girls in Nigeria are protected from sexual abuse and assault by creating a monitoring system to report and enforce gender-based violence laws
8 laws, policies or programs passed with the help of Rise Up Leaders
151K+ girls safeguarded against child marriage in India
133K+ women in custody across 243 correctional facilities in South Africa, providing clear ways to report abuse, mandatory training for prison staff and community oversight
Across the globe, Rise Up Leaders are working to improve equity in education, health and economic opportunity for women, girls and gender non-conforming people.
In the last half of 2022, Rise Up Leaders have helped pass 8 laws, policies or programs that have affected over 3 million people. Here are a few of the incredible wins in India, South Africa and Nigeria:
India
Rise Up Leader Sushmita Mukherjee improved community safeguards against child marriage for 151,183 girls through enhanced enforcement of India’s national Prohibition of Child Marriage Act.
Specifically, Sushmita and the organization Project Concern International helped establish community groups led by local women leaders that take concrete actions to prevent child marriage and ensure girls can safely attend school.
South Africa
Rise Up Leader Unathi Mahlati strengthened protections and conditions for 133,998 women currently in custody across 243 correctional facilities in South Africa, providing clear ways to report abuse, mandatory training for prison staff and community oversight.
Unathi and the organization Just Detention International South Africa (JDI-SA) achieved this goal through an official agreement with the Department of Correctional Services to incorporate JDI-SA’s sexual abuse prevention curriculum into its standard warden training.
Nigeria
Rise Up Leader Betty Abah protected 3,681 children and teenage girls in Nigeria from sexual abuse and assault by creating a monitoring system to report and enforce gender-based violence laws.
After a year of mobilizing cross-sector leaders, Betty and the Centre for Children’s Health Education, Orientation and Protection won the endorsement of Lagos State to form official committees to stop gender-based violence across 3 Lagos communities.
Rise Up activates women & girls to transform their lives, families & communities for a more just & equitable world through investment in local solutions, strengthening leadership & building movements. Since 2009, over 600 leaders have successfully advocated for 120 new & improved laws & policies impacting 135 million people around the globe. For more information, visit their website.
This impact story was first published as a highlight in the Rise Up newsletter.
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