VOICE for RURAL WOMEN - Tamale, Ghana

The VOICE for RURAL WOMEN (VRW) is a nonprofit, non-governmental and non-political grassroots organization for empowering RURAL WOMEN and GIRLS to lead an adequate and self-sustainable life in the RURAL society. Many WOMEN in the RURAL communities are not able to speak freely about problems they face within their communities. They suffer the most from the key issues of gender inequality: abuse, lack of social protection, early marriage, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), lack of education and lack of land ownership. Rural women do not have access to the advantages that urban women often enjoy. They don’t have the opportunity to gain confidence in speaking out in their own communities because of gender stereotypes. Practices like FGM and child marriage, which have been made illegal, are  

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still practiced in rural areas because attitudes have not changed and they are more isolated. Rural women are key players in the life of these communities. They often are the farmers who provide food for the community, yet in many places they cannot own land and gain control over their lives. This requires not only a legal process but a process of enlightening women and their communities to human right issues and combating ingrained beliefs and traditions that are harmful to women and girls. By bringing rural women to the fore, we are addressing a key asset to our world and global economy. We at VOICE for RURAL WOMEN believe that violence against WOMEN and GIRLS is a universal pandemic. It thrives when we keep silent. But when we unite and work together, we will end it completely.