The Open Society Institute (OSI) aims to shape public policy to promote democratic governance, human rights and economic, legal and social reform. Initiatives cover a range of activities that seek to promote free and open societies.
In closed societies or in countries in conflict or transitioning to democracy, women are often denied access to power, resources and information that allow them to exercise their basic human rights and make informed decisions about their lives, communities and countries.
The mission of IWP is to use grant-making and programmatic efforts to promote and protect the rights of women and girls around the globe where the principles of good governance and respect for the rule of law are absent or destroyed because of conflict.
IWP's goal is to be a catalyst for creating conditions in which women can take the lead in their own political, economic and social development and strengthening institutions that are responsive to and inclusive of women. IWP seeks to promote the advancement of women's rights and gender equality in law and practice, and the empowerment of women to ensure participation in the democratic process as the foundations for achieving this goal.
IWP's work is guided by legal and normative frameworks and the realization of these is the entry point for promoting gender equality, the advancement of women’s rights and women’s inclusion. IWP will focus its support around three main objectives:
- Reducing discrimination and violence against women
- Strengthening women's access to justice
- Increasing women's role as decision-makers and leaders
The International Women’s Program operates in five unique ways:
- Grantmaking: Funding organizations directly.
- Advocacy: Bringing the voices of marginalized and overlooked women into the public arena.
- Capacity Building: Strengthening the capacity of local nongovernmental organizations to fulfill their objectives.
- Convening Strategic Gatherings: Promoting and inspiring change through strategic discussions.
- Coalition Building: Supporting grantees to build coalitions and mobilize resources to increase the impact of their work
In 2007, the International Women's Program worked as a global grantmaking program in cooperation with national and regional Soros foundations, and regional directors’ offices, by identifying and supporting women’s rights organizations in the Middle East/North Africa, Africa, Latin America, and Asia, with a focus on engendering transitional justice, multiple discrimination against women, sustaining regional networks, and resource mobilization.
Read more about the International Women's Program 2007 activities.
