The International Council of Women is the first truly global women’s NGO which was founded in 1888 for the advancement of women all over the world. For the past 130 years, the International Council of Women has remained an active pioneer in promoting international women’s rights. ICW was there when the United Nations was formed to make sure the United Nations Charter included women’s equal rights and the Commission on the Status of Women be established. It was there when the International Women’s Year was proclaimed in 1975. It has been there through the United Nations Decade for Women and Beijing +20. It will continue to be there, representing women’s voice and promoting and protecting international human rights of women to make the world a safer and happier place for women.
Women’s Development…
ICW-CIF empowers women through a range of projects and programs designed to help women to help themselves in practical actions including:
- • Literacy
- • Nutrition
- • Food safety
- • Women and HIV/AIDS
- • Clean water and sanitation awareness
- • Income generating projects
- • Building efficient stoves and rice mills
- • Sustainable agriculture and industrial development
- • Training women in leadership skills and decision making
ICW-CIF Mission Statement…
To unite National Councils of Women’s non-governmental organizations from all parts of the world for action to improve the status of women and the well-being of society
The International Council of Women promotes…
ICW-CIF empowers women through a range of projects and programs designed to help women to help themselves in practical actions including:
- • Equal rights and responsibilities for women and men
- • Peace and understanding through international co-operation, negotiation and reconciliation
- • The fuller integration of women as decision-makers in peace-making and peace building efforts
- • Human rights for all people
- • The elimination of all forms of discrimination
- • Sustainable development
- • Communication and networking worldwide
The International Council of Women takes action through
Seminars and workshops to develop skills
- • Equal rights and responsibilities for women and men
- • Development of its regional councils: ECICW (European Center); Regional Council of the Americas; Regional Council of Africa; APRC (Asia-Pacific Regional Council)
- • Participation of ICW-CIF permanent representatives at meetings of UN agencies in New York, Vienna, Geneva, Rome, Paris and Nairobi
- • Advocacy at the annual UN Commission on the Status of Women
- • Training regarding CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women) reporting
