Annual Report 2008 Content

Credits 3 Editorial

Publisher: 4 The year at a glance medica mondiale e.V. 6 Giving women a new start in life Hülchrather Straße 4 50670 Cologne Psychosocial Trauma Work Germany 8 Against silence and suppression Tel. + 49 2 21/93 18 98-0 Human Rights Work Fax + 49 2 21/93 18 98-1 [email protected] 10 medica mondiale’s International Projects www.medicamondiale.org Afghanistan – For women’s rights Legally responsible for contents: Liberia – Protection from sexualized violence Dr. Monika Hauser 14 Independent medica Women’s Centers Editing: Kosovo – When women break traditions Britta Amorin, Stefanie Keienburg Albania – A forgotten poorhouse 15 Project Cooperation Editorial assistants: Mandy Bauer, Anna Biermann, Selmin Democratic Republic of the Congo – The war against women Çalişkan, Sybille Fezer, Ute Fischer, Daniela 16 Rapid help for women around the world Gierschmann, Martina Grantz, Bele Grau, Karin Griese, Yvonne Günther, Sanne Project Fund Kaperlat, Beate Kriechel, Jessica Mosbahi, 18 Are we doing the right thing and are we doing it right? Maren Platzmann, Mandy Seidel, Claudia Soeder, Kirsten Wienberg Project Evaluation 20 Inform and educate Bank account for donations: medica mondiale e.V. medica mondiale in public Sparkasse KölnBonn 21 Soliciting donations Routing no.: 370 501 98 Account no.: 45 000 163 22 medica mondiale e.V. IBAN DE92 3705 0198 0045 0001 63 Association, administrative bodies and duties SWIFT-BIC COLSDE33 24 Financial report Cover photo: Participant in a literacy course in Income and expenses, profit and loss account, balance sheet the Democratic Republic of Congo © Cornelia Suhan/medica mondiale 30 From the beginning to today Chronicle Editorial deadline: September 29, 2009 31 We cannot accomplish our mission without you! Design: MediaCompany GmbH, Bonn 32 Charter of medica mondiale

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2 Editorial

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Action on behalf of women in war and conflict zones is the name of the young women from the hands of soldiers? In spite of the many rapes in medica mondiale campaign which started in 2008. Through public the eastern region of the DR Congo or in Sudan, the world community is actions and strong commitment, our goals for the coming years are to not backing up its words with actions and is largely taking a passive reach even more people than before, to make them aware of the emer- stance. The political battle for the actual implementation of this resolu- gency situation of women in many crisis zones around the world, and to tion continues. urge them to give their support. Justice for women victims of wartime violence is a wide field – at a med- Taking action on behalf of war-traumatized women requires commitment ica mondiale conference, professional women and activists from around from all of us – today more than ever. According to UN Human Rights the world explained what they thought it meant. It turned out that along Committee estimates, around 100,000 women, including many children with the scandal of widespread impunity, supposedly “trivial” things were and elderly women, were raped in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR more of an issue than unusually hard punishments for the perpetrators. Congo) this past year alone. These women need our help at once, and Such so-called “trivial” things include: having a translator available dur- not just medical and psychosocial aid, but also legal support. We are ing inquests for a survivor of sexualized violence testifying as a witness therefore pleased that medica mondiale, in collaboration with its part- before a war crimes tribunal, her being able to enrol in a witness pro- ners, was able to get involved to a greater extent on a local level in 2008. tection program so that she doesn’t have to fear for her life a second In addition to providing women with direct support, we must clearly al- time, her getting medications for her HIV infection, and naturally making ways remain committed to raising public awareness of the severity of the arrangements for the rapist who infected her to get such medications in crimes committed against women and to the clear designation of both custody too. Justice also means that courts and criminal prosecution au- deed and perpetrator. Equally indispensible is the commitment to ob- thorities must be aware of the suffering and living conditions of women, taining justice for women victims of wartime violence: for example, all and treat them with respect. participants in rape hearings and trials — judges as well as plaintiffs — should be aware of what it means to be both a victim of such a serious In the face of daily, brutal violence and demeaning, degrading acts human rights violation and also a witness at a trial, and possibly to have against women, pain and rage are still a part of our work even after more to face the perpetrator in court while doing so. than 15 years. The pride and joy in the achievements give us the strength to go on. As I accepted the Right Livelihood Award on December 10th in In 2008, medica mondiale made important progress in all of these ar- Stockholm and gazed upon the self-assured and smiling faces of my col- eas. The awarding of the Right Livelihood Award (Alternative Nobel Prize) leagues from Cologne, Kabul, Zenica, Tirana and Fish Town, our com- in December was a high accolade for medica mondiale as an organiza- mon strength became clear to me: we shall all remain steadfast in our tion. But just as much, it means encouragement for the many, mostly commitment to aid traumatized women around the world. unknown women’s rights activists around the world who stand up to misogynistic violence on a daily basis. With the award, the panel clearly To this end, we can continue to grow thanks to your support. condemned violence against women and thus sent a clear political sig- nal to the world community. The long-overdue UN Resolution 1820 was My sincerest thanks, passed in 2008. It demands that all parties involved in armed conflicts must cease actions of sexualized violence immediately. It condemns the practice of sexualized violence as a threat to world peace, as a crime against humanity, and on these grounds, it gives the UN member states the mandate to act and the order to provide protection. But where and by whom will this mandate ultimately be put into practice? To whom can a Congolese human rights activist turn for support if she wants to free Monika Hauser

Annual Report 2008: Editorial 3 Monika Hauser (2nd from left) with the other laureates at the Right Livelihood Award (Alternative Nobel Prize) ceremony in Stockholm © Cornelia Suhan/medica mondiale The year at a glance

More support in the DR Congo Training handbook for action against violence to women Even after the peace treaty of 2002, women and girls are still been raped In a handbook for trainers, Gurcharan Virdee, a former medica mondiale and seriously injured in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) employee, summarizes her experiences from five years of work in day after day. As a result, last January, medica mondiale began ex- Afghanistan. The English version of the handbook, which was published panding its collaboration with the Congolese women’s rights organization in March, consists of modules for training sessions with activists and al- PAIF (Promotion et Appui aux Initiatives Féminines), which has been pro- so with employees of organizations and institutions that work with viding support to women and girls in the eastern Congolese crisis women victims of violence and trauma in conflict regions. Among other provinces of North and South Kivu for many years. medica mondiale and things, the author focuses on topics such as women-oriented coun- PAIF have been partners since 2004. A cooperative project planned for a selling, family mediation, and cooperation. Those who are interested can three-year period will secure access to medical, psychosocial, and eco- download the handbook at www.medicamondiale.org. nomic aid for around 800 women. The project is being sponsored by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development 15 years of medica mondiale (BMZ). When Monika Hauser proposed founding a women’s center in Bosnia, people just smiled at the idea at first. “A women’s project in Bosnia? Are Women as protagonists for peace you out of your mind?” was the response of a German diplomat in De- Last February, in Bad Boll, medica mondiale and other institutions co- cember of 1992, the time of the Bosnian war. A few months later, work hosted the conference entitled “Women as protagonists for peace in the on the women’s centre in Zenica had started. April 2008 marks the 15th Near East and North Africa”. Experts from seven countries and around anniversary of the founding of medica mondiale. Other projects have 120 conference participants exemplified the important role that women since been started in Albania, Afghanistan, Liberia, and in Kosovo. Plus, play in the prevention and resolution of conflicts. Discussions centered medica mondiale can look back on diverse successes on the political on UN Resolution 1325, which among other things demands that women level and the successful promotion of local women’s organizations in be included to a greater extent in peace negotiations. Although women many countries. and girls are frequently the ones who suffer the most in wars, they are very rarely included in the political decisions on peace, security, and re- construction.

4 Annual Report 2008: The year at a glance Eye-catcher: The Campaign in Cologne © Stefanie Keienburg/medica mondiale Author Gurcharan Virdee © Sybille Fezer/medica mondiale

Conflict training in Afghanistan © Christa Kirby/medica mondiale Conference of international experts in Bad Honnef © Cornelia Suhan/medica mondiale

Start of the “Action” campaign of medica mondiale, but also generated immense media interest, which In August, medica mondiale started the “Action on Behalf of Women in in turn caused public awareness to skyrocket. The prize comes with an War and Conflict Zones” campaign. The goal of the campaign is to gen- endowment of approx. 50,000 Euros. erate awareness of crimes against women and to motivate people in Ger- many to get involved on a personal level. With public actions, medica Support for Medica Zenica mondiale hopes to gain more supporters who will stand up for women — Bosnia has been out of the international limelight for some time and by speaking out, with their influence, or with a donation. medica mondi- largely forgotten by donors, and as a consequence Medica Zenica is hav- ale appeared in Cologne and Berlin with the centrepiece of the cam- ing difficulty financing itself. At times the centre’s psychological coun- paign, a setup with 36 life-sized figures. selling team works without pay, thus jeopardizing ongoing therapeutic work. In November, medica mondiale therefore decided to give 20,000 Law and justice Euros of the Right Livelihood Award prize money to Medica Zenica. How can women and girl survivors of sexualized wartime violence ob- tain justice? In a professional conference hosted by medica mondiale in Involvement of action groups Bad Honnef in September, around 50 experts from Africa, America, Asia, The action group WEITBLICK of Gelsenkirchen held an Advent benefit and Europe drew up a balance sheet on the criminal prosecution of sex- for medica mondiale on December 1st. Cabaret performer Uta Roter- ualized wartime violence, which thus far has been woefully inadequate. mund, a long-time supporter of medica mondiale, read amusing pas- Along with activists from crisis zones, UN representatives and renowned sages from Oscar Wild and Friedrich Wolf. Richetta Manager, the patron lawyers practicing in international tribunals took part. of WEITBLICK and a vocalist, sang spirituals and Advent carols. She was accompanied on the piano by Salvator Caro. All of the proceedings from Right Livelihood Award for Monika Hauser the event, a total of 1,285 Euros, went to medica mondiale. In October, Monika Hauser received a call from Stockholm. She learned that she was to obtain the Right Livelihood Award, the so-called Alterna- tive Nobel Prize, for her action on behalf of traumatized women. The no- tice of the award was not only cause for celebration in the Cologne office

Annual Report 2008: The year at a glance 5 Women who are affected need individual help in overcoming trauma. © Sybille Fezer/medica mondiale

Giving women a new start in life

Psychosocial Trauma Work

Wartime rape or other forms of gender-specific violence are more than just serious human rights violations. The destructive consequences of such traumatic experiences frequently haunt women for the rest of their lives. Rape, and also extreme violence at the hands of family members, are thus usually experienced as threats to one’s very exis- tence. Experiencing sexualized violence destroys one’s sense of security, undermines one’s self-esteem, and creates a sense of overwhelming helplessness.

medica mondiale aids women victims in over- projects. This quality is assured by medica Providing competent and qualified help coming traumatic experiences and helps them mondiale’s trauma division, which provides to women to live independently and in security in spite of continuous, expert, on-site accompaniment for In medica mondiale projects, psychosocial sup- having experienced degrading and destructive both our own projects and supported partner port is provided to women exclusively by local violence. Psychosocial counsellors in the inter- projects. The trauma division is also responsi- staff. Advanced training provided on a regular national projects help women regain their self- ble for the development of quality standards for basis by outside trainers, as well as continuous esteem and overcome their isolation. working with war-traumatized women and girls. expert support by the head office, are essen- Some of its other duties include: cooperations tial to this process. Providing competent and sensitive help to in the research area as well as training in deal- women and girl victims of violence requires top- ing with violence against women and traumati- The first of four one-week training sessions was quality psychosocial counselling work in the zation. held in Afghanistan at the end of 2008. Six

6 Annual Report 2008. Psychosocial Trauma Work Afghani staff members from Herat and Kabul Expert, on-site accompaniment of PAIF, and the head office in Cologne, which set took part in the training in order to enrich their psychosocial work the pace for a closer professional exchange in skills in psychosocial work with an emphasis The trauma work division played a decisive role the future in terms of support work for women. on trauma work. The staff members learned in the design and expert supervision of sever- how the working principles of medica mondi- al advanced training sessions for Afghani med- Training ale, e.g., empowerment, partisanship for ical personnel. In the scope of the medica mon- The trauma work division collaborated on nu- women, and holism, can be put into practice in diale Afghanistan health project, around 20 merous professional articles and gave inter- working with clients in Afghanistan. In Liberia, medical professionals in Herat took part in views on the topic of sexualized wartime vio- the staff of medica mondiale Liberia had a one- three advanced training sessions for dealing lence to various media. medica mondiale’s ex- day training session on the topic of “Traumati- with traumatized women and women victims of pertise in dealing with trauma has since been sation and its consequences”. They were also violence. increasingly sought after by organizations such introduced to the principles of counselling in a as the German Development Service (DED) for five-day seminar. The local team’s additional Exchange and networking relevant on-the-job training and preparation of need for advanced training was determined so medica mondiale promotes professional ex- development workers. that future training measures could be change and networking of staff in both its own planned. and sponsored projects in the trauma and psy- Due to the high demand, a year-long program chosocial counselling field. Three psychosocial with advanced training and information For the first time ever, the trauma division man- counsellors from medica mondiale Liberia vis- evenings on the topic of “Wartime Violence ager visited the Congolese partner organization ited the Kosovan women’s organization Med- and Trauma” was planned for 2009. Among PAIF, in order to get an idea of the local psy- ica Kosova, in order to exchange ideas with the others, this program is designed for profes- chosocial support work for women and to as- Kosovan counselors on approaches for work- sionals in humanitarian and developmental sess the need for expert support. In a one-day ing with traumatized women. In addition, med- policy workgroups in Germany, and also for oth- workshop, she taught the local staff skills and ica mondiale organized a first meeting be- er professional groups and generally interest- practical exercises for protecting themselves tween representatives of Medica Zenica, Med- ed parties who have no prior knowledge of the from burnout. ica Kosova, medica mondiale Afghanistan, subject.

Psychosocial counselling of traumatized women and girls requires a high level of professional skill. medica mondiale trains Afghan women doctors to recognize © Lizette Potgieter/medica mondiale signs of previous violence in their patients. © Lizette Potgieter/medica mondiale

Annual Report 2008: Psychosocial Trauma Work 7 Against silence and suppression

Human Rights Work medica mondiale is actively involved on the political level in the fight to establish rights for women. Although wartime rape has since been classified as a serious human rights violation, the crimes are still being ignored and downplayed in both public and private sectors. Through actions and events, medica mondiale is perseveringly calling attention to the crimes and the destructive consequences of sexualized wartime violence for women and societies. The goal of the political human rights work is to achieve effective protection and support for women in war and crisis zones. To this end, medica mondiale is approaching persons in charge in both public and private sectors with concrete proposals and demands for preventing violence and providing women with better protection in the future. At the same time, medica mondiale is pushing for more participation by women in peace negotiations and conflict resolutions and for an end to impunity for wartime rape.

International conference on women and 1325 more seriously and stand up for their and rebel armies. In spite of international trea- peace implementation. UN Resolution 1325 de- ties such as UN Resolution 1820, which were In February 2008, medica mondiale, the Pro- mands greater participation by women in intended to protect women and girls from se- testant Academy of Bad Boll, the Human peace and conflict resolution. The conference xualized violence, the signatory states are tak- Rights Forum, and the Civil Conflict Resolution was funded by the Zivik project for Civil Con- ing no action. Platform co-hosted the conference entitled flict Resolution (Zivik – Zivile Konfliktbearbei- “Women as protagonists for peace in the Ne- tung). ar East and in North Africa – Best practice ex- In order to inform the German Bundestag de- amples from civil conflict resolution”. Around Protection of women in the Democratic legates about the massive violence against 20 experts from seven countries discussed Republic of Congo (DR Congo) women in the DR Congo and to urge them to the role of women as protagonists in recon- The events in the DR Congo defined the poli- get more involved, medica mondiale – jointly struction and peace negotiations in their tical work of medica mondiale in the second with Bundestag delegate Kerstin Müller of the countries. The approx. 120 conference parti- half of the year. With the renewed outbreak Bündnis 90/Green Party – issued an invita- cipants were in agreement that the important of the conflict in August 2008, violence tion in September to a meeting in the German contribution of women to peace and reconci- against women and girls in the eastern region Bundestag. Representives of other non- liation is still not getting enough recognition of the DR Congo escalated. Human rights or- government organizations also took part. On on the European level. The participants insi- ganizations reported serious human rights invitation by medica mondiale, the Congolese sted that Europe must henceforth take key violations and countless rapes committed by women’s rights activist and founder of the international treaties such as UN Resolution national troops, members of armed militias, medica mondiale partner organization PAIF,

Human rights activists Immaculée Birhaheka (DR Congo) and Rebecca Lolosoli (Kenya) in Bad Honnef in September © Cornelia Suhan/medica mondiale Right: Selmin Caliskan, Head of Department Human Rights and Politics of medica mondiale © Martina Waiblinger

8 Annual Report 2008: Human Rights Work In the wake of the renewed outbreak of fighting in August 2008, many women in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo face the threat of widespread sexualized violence. © Cornelia Suhan/medica mondiale

Immaculée Birhaheka, travelled from the cri- mer deputy head of the UN Mission in the DR nal reconciliation committees, like former sis region to report on the situation of the lo- Congo and current Swedish Foreign Ministry Peruvian Truth Committee staff member cal women and girls. staff member Lena Sundh, director of the Julissa Falcon Mantilla. Still others were or are Swedish women’s organization Kvinna till active in UN institutions, like Patricia Sellers, In November of 2008, medica mondiale took Kvinna Lena Ag, officer in charge of gender former plaintiff in the UN special courts for part in a solemn vigil in front of the German issues in the Swedish army Charlotte Isaks- Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia, and Yakin Bundestag in Berlin. While the Bundestag de- son, and Immaculée Birhaheka of PAIF dis- Ertürk, UN special reporter on violence legates were discussing a petition by the cussed measures for better protection and against women. The participants drew up a Bündnis 90/Green Party faction on the topic support of women activists by the world com- detailed account of the experiences of survi- of sexualized violence against women in the munity. vors of acts of sexualized violence on local, DR Congo and the implementation of UN national, and international levels. The bitter Resolution 1325, representatives of twelve “Seeking justice” result: the vast majority of cases never lead to non-government organizations demanded In September, medica mondiale hosted an in- criminal prosecution. In fact, the opposite is that the German federal government make a ternational professional conference in Bad true: “Rape is the only crime in which the vic- decisive commitment to ending violence Honnef, entitled “Seeking justice, getting tim is punished,” concluded participants from against women in the DR Congo. law”. Topic: the thus far woefully inadequate every continent. criminal prosecution of sexualized wartime With a panel discussion and a photo exhibit violence. Around 50 experts from Africa, Ame- sponsored by the German Embassy, on the rica, Asia, and Europe put forth alternative occasion of the awarding of the Right Liveli- strategies for obtaining justice for women vic- hood Award in December in Stockholm, medi- tims of wartime rape. Some of the invitees ca mondiale called attention to the precarious are active in grassroots projects that provide situation of women’s rights advocates in the psychosocial and legal counsel to victims of DR Congo. In front of around 40 guests, for- violence. Others were or are active in natio-

Annual Report 2008: Human Rights Work 9 medica mondiale – International Projects

Psychosocial counsellors of medica mondiale Afghanistan provide support to women. © Lizette Potgieter/medica mondiale Afghanistan

For women’s rights

The situation for women in Afghanistan has not improved at all, even though it has been eight years since the fall of the terror regime of the Taliban. After initial encouraging improvements, increasingly more setbacks and extreme misogynistic behaviour towards women have been observed in the last few years. In spite of initial avowals, neither the Afghan government nor the international community of states have made protection and advancement of women and girls a priority. Around 80% of women and girls in Afghanistan are still being forced into marriage. Many of them are minors, and as a result the mortality rate of mothers is one of the highest in the world. More than half of the female prison inmates were imprisoned for “moral crimes”, deprived of their rights, and branded by society as “bad” women. Violence and lawlessness are also a large part of everyday family life in Afghanistan, a way of life that drives an ex- ceptionally high number of young women to suicide.

Since 2002, medica mondiale has shown its commitment to the women of so-called moral crimes such as alleged or actual adultery or running and girls in Afghanistan in the scope of various projects: In 2008, ap- away from their husbands. To be accused of adultery, all it often takes is prox. 70 local staff members offered women direct psychosocial and le- for a woman to be caught in a public street without an escort. Women gal aid. In addition, medica mondiale is training lawyers, doctors, and who have been raped are also frequently branded as adulteresses. med- social workers in how to give professional aid to Afghan women victims ica mondiale Afghanistan lawyers were able to achieve favourable ver- of sexualized violence. medica mondiale is also taking an active role in dicts, e.g., acquittals or less severe sentences, for the women in over the political scene for women’s rights in Afghanistan. 80% of the cases in which they acted as representatives. In most of the civil law cases, medica mondiale Afghanistan lawyers represented Legal aid women clients in divorces. The main reason why these women wanted In 2008, the legal aid project team counselled and represented a total a divorce was because of the extreme physical and mental abuse that of 723 women in civil and criminal court cases in Kabul, Kandahar, Her- many of them were suffering at the hands of their husbands. at, and Mazar-e Sharif. Most of these women and girls had been accused

10 Annual Report 2008: Afghanistan Marriage registration document © Lizette Potgieter/medica mondiale

medica mondiale legal counselling room in Kabul, Afghanistan An estimated 60 to 80% of Afghan girls and women, many of whom are still minors, are © Lizette Potgieter/medica mondiale forced into marriage against their will. © Lizette Potgieter/medica mondiale

Psychosocial counselling der-specific violence has since been added to the training curriculum for The staff of medica mondiale Afghanistan gave psychosocial coun- public health care personnel. selling to a total of 362 women in Kabul and Herat; 286 in group ses- sions and 76 individually. These women were victims of sexualized and Women’s rights work domestic violence and had mental problems, particularly depression In 2008, the marriage registration campaign that was started in the end and anxiety spells. Follow-up assessments showed that for 85% of the of 2005 bore further fruit: The supreme court in Afghanistan established clients surveyed, their mental and physical health had improved official provisions for civil marriage and set up registration offices in Kab- thanks to the counselling. ul, Herat, Mazar, and Parwan. medica mondiale Afghanistan wrote in- formational and educational brochures for the public, and hosted infor- Training of women medical specialists mational events on the topic of marriage registration for around 30 spir- Around 30 Afghan women doctors and nurses from Kabul completed itual leaders from Kabul and the surrounding area. With an official and medica mondiale Afghanistan‘s two-year advanced training program for registered marriage, it is possible to prevent girls who are under the women medical specialists. They were trained in trauma-sensitive ex- statutory minimum age of 16 in Afghanistan from being married. Forced amination and treatment techniques. They also learned how to recog- marriages of minors can thus be prevented. nize trauma in their patients better, so that they could react in an ap- propriate, sensitive manner. Another training course with a further 20 Turning over the program to Afghan women women professionals from Herat started in May. The preparations and plans for building the future organization Medica Afghanistan continued in 2008. The timetable for the coming years calls Improvement of the public health care system for a step-by-step takeover of the running of the program by Afghan staff. Through continuous education and lobbying initiatives, with the help of In 2008 the entire management of medica mondiale Afghanistan was other organizations, medica mondiale Afghanistan was able to get the still in the hands of an international specialist, while in 2009, an Afghan Afghan Ministery of Health to address the issue of violence against colleague will be trained to assume the role of director, and by 2010 the women and its physical and psychological consequences for the victims. entire responsibility should be in the hands of local staff. The goal is to provide proper care in the future, with psychosocial pro- grams and support in the scope of the state health care system, for Project Budget: 1,040,280 Euros patients who have suffered violence. The first steps and successes are already evident – a medica mondiale Afghanistan training unit on gen-

Annual Report 2008: Afghanistan 11 medica mondiale – International Projects

Liberia

Protection from sexualized violence

The civil war in the West African country of Liberia lasted 14 years. From 1989 to 2003, rebel groups and soldiers raided cities and villages. An estimated two out of every three women were raped. Many of the women were made into soldiers or kidnapped and forced to become prostitutes in the camps of the war-waging parties. Even with the end of the fighting, the violence against women in Liberia is still going on. In spite of very strict legislation against sexualized violence, rape is still one of the most common crimes and most of the perpetrators go unpunished.

medica mondiale has been active in the remote southeast of Liberia since olence comprising women’s groups, civil society organizations, and gov- 2006. In Fish Town, the capital of the province of River Gee, medica mon- ernment organizations. diale has built a women’s centre. The goal is to provide psychosocial sup- port to survivors of sexualized wartime violence and to women and girls Psychosocial and legal accompaniment living under the threat of violence in a devastated post-war society, and The staff of medica mondiale Liberia provided care for over 200 women also to open up new perspectives for them with income-generating activ- and girls in 2008. Depending on their individual needs, they received psy- ities. In addition, medica mondiale is taking an active role in the political chosocial counselling or were provided with escorts to the police, to court, scene for women’s rights in Liberia and educates the populace on the or to the health centres. Four women received temporary asylum in the consequences of violence. At the same time, medica mondiale has es- protection room of the women’s centre. tablished a protection network for women affected and threatened by vi-

Being able to stand on one’s own two feet helps women overcome dependency and poverty and also contributes to their emotional stabilization. © Sybille Fezer/medica mondiale

12 Annual Report 2008: Liberia In honour of International Women’s Day, approx. 50 women and girls carrying banners and wearing hats with the message “Stop rape!” marched through Fish Town and passed around informational brochures. © Karin Griese/medica mondiale

Protection for village women In order to provide quick and prompt aid to as many women and girls as working groups from the beginning on in topics such as dealing with vio- possible outside the provincial capitals as well, medica mondiale allo- lence against women and the Liberian anti-rape law. To date, there have cated a greater amount of project work to the villages and communities been more than 70 training units, ranging from lectures on specific sub- in 2008. In the villages community volunteers were trained and organ- jects to intensive workshops. ized into so-called protection groups. The volunteers are first contacts for women and girls affected by violence. They also escort them to hospitals Training for dealing with trauma and violence or court, and when necessary refer them to the medica mondiale medica mondiale trains the staff of local and international aid organiza- women’s centre. Eleven protection groups were set up in the villages, and tions and also of government institutions in the professional care of 29 community volunteers were trained in the fundamentals of crisis in- women survivors of sexualized violence. Around 1,300 employees from tervention. Their duties also include acting as mediators between women the police, the justice system, schools, and hospitals, and also develop- and family members, and getting the village elders involved in the cases. ment aid workers from other organizations such as German Agro Action In addition, several palaver huts were set up in isolated villages, where and the Danish aid organization ibis received advanced training on trau- women can meet and find initial asylum in times of crisis. ma and sexualized violence. Sixty-nine midwives also received profes- sional training on the consequences of sexualized violence for women‘s Training courses reproductive health. In the Fish Town women’s centre in May, 123 women completed six month courses in skills such as bread baking, soap making, tailoring, tex- Sexualized violence and trauma education tile dyeing, fundamentals of computer work, or hairdressing. The gradu- medica mondiale travels to the villages on a routine basis, providing in- ates also received aid in the form of scissors, textiles, sewing machines, struction on topics such as human and women’s rights and sexualized etc. to help them start up small businesses. violence against women. In market places, schools, or hospital wards, medica mondiale appeals to the village population to help protect women. Working group for more protection Education campaigns and local radio programs also disseminate this in- In 2006, medica mondiale set up a working group in Fish Town to com- formation in the villages. Altogether, around 1,500 women and men were bat sexualized and gender-specific violence. In this group, aid organiza- reached by these means. tions, women’s groups, and representatives from the police, justice sys- tem, local government, and the UN Peacebuilding Commission collabo- Project budget: 464,529 Euros rate in the development of measures to protect and aid women. medica mondiale is an active member in the local working group in the village of Zwedru. medica mondiale provided continuous training to both of these

Annual Report 2008: Liberia 13 Independent medica Women’s Centers

For the first time ever, Kosovan widows are earning their own incomes. Women can share experiences with each other in open discussion sessions. © Sybille Fezer/medica mondiale © Sybille Fezer/medica mondiale Kosovo Albania

When women break traditions A forgotten poorhouse

A small revolution is going on in the villages that Medica Kosova is Albania is one of the poorest countries in Europe. One of the coun- building women’s cooperatives in: women are driving tractors, work- try’s worst problems is the catastrophic situation of many women and ing their own land, earning their own incomes. And they are united: girls. Along with abject poverty and unemployment, violence, traf- against a tradition that tends to viewthem (in most cases these ficking in women, and vendettas are part of everyday life for many women are widows) in no other way than as dressed in black and obe- Albanian women. dient, and staying behind the walls of their in-law’s farmyard. medica mondiale has been providing support to the women’s therapy Since 1999, medica mondiale has been acting on behalf of traumatized andcounseling center medica Tirana since 1999. In 2008, the center’s women in Kosovo and helping them in dealing with their wartime expe- gynecology clinic treated 755 women suffering from psychosomatic dis- riences and in developing prospects for the future. Most of these women orders and gynecological problems resulting from what was in some cas- are widows, and many of them were raped during the war but are still not es years of traumatization. 197 women availedthemselves of psy- able to talk about what happened to them even today. For in the strong- chosocial andtherapeutic counselling in group sessions; 139 women ly patriarchal society of Kosovo, wartime rape is taboo. received individual counseling. As a result, trauma symptoms such as depression, sleep disorders, and stress declined markedly. Out of 120 Thanks to medica mondiale’s commitment, the Kosovan women’s or- women from the outlying districts of Tirana who took part in vocational ganisation Medica Kosova, with headquarters in Gjakova, was estab- training courses, 35 were able to be placedin a job. In a campaign, med- lishedin 2004. medica mondiale has since been supporting this organ- ica Tirana calledattention to the fate of women survivors of the Hoxha ization with donations and grants, and counselling the team in project regime, who in some cases spent decades in internment camps. A the- planning andmanagement. In the villages aroundGjakova Medica Koso- atre project was addressed to the young generation: A group of 15 girls va helps women establish their own livelihoods as small farmers. In presented on the scene a drama on self-determination and the preven- 2008, 114 women farmers secured their livelihoods with field crop pro- tion of trafficking of women. In addition, 363 police, teachers, nurses, duction and market gardening, raising livestock and dairy farming, and and social work students took introductory courses on the topic of vio- also honey production. These women earn between 110 and 350 Euro lence against women andtrauma. per month, which is often considerably more than the official average income in Kosovo. Women joining together to form small production co- Project budget: 123,025 Euros operatives, sharing tractors andequipment, andtaking charge of their own lives is a small revolution for tradition-bound Kosovo.

A total of 234 women, including women farmers and members of eth- nic minorities, receivedpsychosocial counselling. The gynaecologists of Medica Kosova treated785 women. In the scope of one-on-one legal counselling, 155 women obtainedadvice andsupport, particularly in inheritance and custody rights issues; 40 women took part in regular- ly-scheduled group sessions in order to learn about their rights and the laws on protection from violence. Medica Kosova lawyer representeda total of 22 women in court, andachievedfavourable verdicts for the plaintiff in 19 cases.

Project budget: 205,624 Euros Self-confident and proud – girls of the Tirana theatre group © medica Tirana

14 Annual Report 2008: Kosovo/Albania Project Cooperation

Women and girls learn to read and write in the PAIF project house. © Cornelia Suhan/medica mondiale Democratic Republic of the Congo

The war against women

2008 was another crisis year for the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Although the warring parties had agreed to a cease-fire in the beginning of 2008, violent conflict soon broke out again in the region. The UN warned of renewed genocide. According to UN Human Rights Council estimates, around 100,000 women in the east- ern civil war provinces were raped in 2008 alone – by both government and militia troops.

Since 2004, medica mondiale has been providing support to the Con- Training courses and economic aid golese women’s rights organization PAIF (Promotion et Appui aux Initia- In order to give women the power to overcome poverty and earn a living tives Féminines) with small subsidies from the medica mondiale Project on their own, PAIF offers reading courses, vocational training, and busi- Fund. In 2008, this cooperation was expanded to the scope of a three- ness start-up aid to women and girls. A total of 110 women and girls took year cooperative project. PAIF aids women and girls who were raped in part in reading courses, and 100 participants successfully completed the ongoing war. The organization provides psychosocial counselling and courses of several months on sewing, bread baking and juice produc- economic aid to the survivors and escorts them to hospitals, to the tion. PAIF also provided daycare services for 75 children each month so police, and to court. Plus PAIF educates families, communities, and in- that mothers could take advantage of these courses as well. Upon com- stitutions on violence against women, documents cases of sexualized pletion of their training courses, PAIF provided the graduates with start- violence, and advocates for the prosecution of the perpetrators. up aid so that they could achieve economic independence: approx. 135 women received seed, a total of 188 women received goats, and an- The support of medica mondiale facilitated the construction of a other 67 women were given funds to start up a small business. women’s centre in Goma, the capital of the province of North Kivu. This centre soon became an important asylum and counselling centre for sur- Emergency medical care vivors of sexualized wartime violence in Goma and the surrounding area. As a consequence of the renewed escalation of the conflict in mid-2008, Along with the actual building of the centre, medica mondiale also sup- the need for medical care for survivors of sexualized violence likewise in- ports the activities that take place in it. creased, too. PAIF arranged for the transportation of needy women to hospital wards and clinics and paid for their medical treatment. Psychosocial counselling PAIF psychosocial counsellors provided support to 24 self-help groups, Family and community education in which approx. 280 survivors of sexualized violence found a monthly fo- In monthly informational events, PAIF educated families in villages on rum for exchange, consolation and support. The counsellors worked with the consequences of rape and domestic violence, on women's rights, the women on overcoming their traumatic experiences and on finding and on male role models. Also in 2008, PAIF staff boldly advocated the strategies for protection against the violence of everyday life. More than documentation of human rights violations, spoke out against violent 100 women also availed themselves of one-on-one counselling as a sup- crimes against women, brought suit against perpetrators, and on re- plement to the group sessions. peated occasions liberated women and girls from crisis situations at great personal cost.

Project budget: 239,120 Euros

Annual Report 2008: Democratic Republic of the Congo 15 Project Fund

Rapid help for women around the world

Project Fund

Thanks to the medica mondiale Project Fund, since 2004, it has been possible to provide immediate support without red tape to women and girls in war and crisis zones who face or have faced sexualized violence. Local women’s proj- ects are provided with funding for confronting sexualized violence, enforcing women’s rights, and building sustainable support structures. In 2008, support was provided to nine women’s projects in four countries – one organization was sponsored twice in 2008. medica mondiale made this selection from a total of 54 requests. The sponsorships were focused on projects in the Great Lakes region of Central Africa.

In Rwanda, the women’s organizations Kan- northeastern Uganda. In 2008, medica mon- aid to Israeli and Arabian-Palestinian women yarwanda and SEVOTA (Structure d’En- diale sponsored a study conducted by this or- victims of sexualized violence living in Israel. cadrement des Veuves et des Orphelins pour ganization. This study examined the living con- The organization encourages women to take a le Travail et l’Auto promotion) provided aid to ditions of women in the Teso region and docu- stand against injustice, and offers both legal survivors of sexualized violence and their chil- mented the extent of the violence and trauma- and therapeutic support. Thanks to medica dren who were born as a consequence of rape. tization to which a large majority of defenseless mondiale sponsorship, Women Against Vio- In 2008, 71 women and their children received Ugandan women have been subjected in re- lence was able to represent ten women in court emergency aid in overcoming the stress of cent years. cases in 2008. everyday life and in dealing with their traumat- ic experiences. medica mondiale funded both FOWAC (Foundation for Women and Girls af- In the eastern regions of the Democratic Re- the regularly scheduled group meetings of the fected by Conflict) helps women and girls in public of the Congo, medica mondiale sup- women and psychosocial monitoring by social northern Uganda who were kidnapped by ports five women’s organizations dedicated to workers. rebels during the civil war and forced into sex- the survival and protection of women and girl ual slavery. medica mondiale helped approx. survivors of sexualized violence: Since 2007, medica mondiale has been sup- 30 survivors of violence through the difficult porting the educational and lobbying work of process of reintegration in their families and The Congolese organization GESOM (Groupe the women’s rights organization TEWPA (Teso communities. d'Entraide et de Solidarité Médicale) set up a Women Peace Activists) of Uganda, which acts kitchen in its own hospital that it runs in Goma, on behalf of survivors of sexualized wartime vi- Since 1992, the Israeli women’s organization the capital of the province of North Kivu, thus olence and for peaceful conflict resolution in Women Against Violence has been providing enabling women who have been abandoned by

Student in a literacy course offered by the FOWAC Foundation, Uganda © FOWAC Women and their children are often the hardest hit by wars and their consequences. © Cornelia Suhan/medica mondiale

16 Annual Report 2008: Project Fund Project Fund

their families to take care of themselves. Around 30 victims of sexualized violence are treated each month in the GESOM hospital.

The women’s organization REMAK (Regroupe- ment des Mamans de Kamituga) helps women by arranging for medical care and income gen- erating activities. A total of 57 survivors of sex- ualized violence were able to obtain treatment in hospital wards. Another 135 women attend- ed courses on sugarcane production and bread baking.

In the province of South Kivu, the women’s organization AID (Appui aux Initiatives de Développement) combines income generating activities with psychosocial care and education on rights. Around 20 women received care and counselling. Each one was also given two goats as well as a small loan for starting up a small business.

The women’s organization AFPDE (Association des Femmes pour la Promotion et le Développement Endogène) provides first aid and psychosocial monitoring to survivors of sexualized violence in the province of South Kivu. In all 168 women received medical care and help in dealing with the violence that they had experienced.

The women’s organization COPERMA (Com- munauté des Planteurs et Eleveurs de la Ré- gion Maraîchère) built a training centre in the province of North Kivu. medica mondiale spon- sored the participation of a total of 1,566 young women – all of whom were survivors of sexualized violence – in the training courses. Around 720 participants chose soap produc- tion; 846 learned sewing. All courses included instruction in reading and fundamentals of business management.

Project budget: 85,393 Euros Many women rape victims are shunned by their own families. © Cornelia Suhan/medica mondiale

Annual Report 2008: Project Fund 17 medica mondiale includes their clients in the evaluation of the projects. © Christa Kirby/medica mondiale

Are we doing the right thing and are we doing it right?

Project Evaluation

Routine, methodical evaluation and assessment of the international projects is playing an increasingly great role at medica mondiale. In recent years, medica mondiale has started contracting external evaluations with independent review- ers to supplement the continuous monitoring and observation of the projects by its own project leaders. These evaluations involve more than just performance review and reporting. An evaluation is also supposed to uncover potential weak areas and enhance learning processes. Evaluation thus contributes to the continuous improvement of medica mondiale's work and provides key information for project and program management.

In an external evaluation, independent con- mencement. Before starting an evaluation, it is basis for discussions by local medica mondiale sultants contracted by medica mondiale are in- necessary to meet with the project team and staff and project leaders on how to implement vestigating how effective, efficient, relevant, decide which questions the evaluation should the recommendations. and sustainable the medica mondiale projects answer, so that the results can subsequently and programs are. The emphasis and goals of be applied to specific goals. The evaluation re- Frequently asked questions include: Were the each assessment differ according to whether port should address the aforementioned crite- program goals achieved? What is the signifi- it is an interim or final evaluation at the end of ria, reveal strengths and weaknesses, and gen- cance of the project for women and girls? What the project term or whether it is an evaluation erate recommendations as to how the quality concrete benefits do they gain from the pro- of a project proposal before project com- of the project can be improved. This provides a ject? Does the team work with professional

18 Annual Report 2008: Project Evaluation Kosovo example:

In 2008, the project “Improvement of the living conditions of war-traumatized women and their families in Kosovo” was evaluated. In the scope of this project, the partner organization Medica Kosova has been supporting women with psychosocial counselling and support, and also in setting up their own businesses as small farmers, since 2005. A key finding of the evaluation was that “the project model turned out to be very beneficial to the partici- pants and their family members” and that the income data testified to the financial success of the measures.1

More than 100 women formed agricultural production groups: They produce honey, raise livestock, operate dairy farming, or cultivate their fields with the tractors provided in the scope of the project. More than 450 family The coordinator of a group of women farmers in the village of Korenica, Kosovo © Margit Spindeler/medica mondiale members in approx. 15 villages are already reaping the benefits of the income from agricultural products, beekeeping, and milk production. For many of these women, who in some cases lost everything in the war, this means having their own income for the first time. The report further states that the successes of the project are due to the long- techniques? How well is the progress of the evaluation system, which is still in the con- term psychosocial accompaniment of the project being documented? For example, are struction phase, follows the German Evaluation clients and working together to overcome war- data on the numbers of women seeking coun- Society (DeGeval) standards as well as the usu- induced trauma. The evaluation showed that selling, their psychological and medical prob- al standards of the Development Assistance the women were emotionally strengthened lems, their material situation, etc. being col- Committee (DAC) for cooperative development and motivated to improve their life circums- tances. Furthermore, the shared experiences lected, analyzed, and applied to the running of projects. have built mutual trust – an essential foun- the project? Are the medica mondiale projects dation for women’s groups. providing sustainable support to women that The summaries of the medica mondiale will continue even after the actual projects project and program evaluations are themselves are completed? published online at www.medicamondiale.org. The process of methodical assessment and evaluation thus far has been limited to projects in foreign countries. For the coming years, how- ever, there are plans to evaluate the projects in other areas as well, such as human rights work 1 Sybille Manneschmidt: Midterm Evaluation of the BMZ Project of Medica Kosova – Improvement of Living Condi- on the political level. The medica mondiale tions for women and their families who have been trauma- tized by the war in Kosovo, January 2008

Annual Report 2008: Project Evaluation 19 Inform and educate medica mondiale in public

Along with providing concrete support locally, one of the most important purposes of medica mondiale is “educating the public about the plight of traumatized women and girls in the project areas and about the causes and backgrounds of violence against women in war and conflict zones”. Public relations work is hence a key element of the organiza- tion’s mission.

Monika Hauser (front, centre) with colleagues from Afghanistan, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cologne, and Kosovo at Start of the campaign in Cologne the Right Livelihood Award ceremony in the Swedish Parliament © Cornelia Suhan/medica mondiale © Sybille Fezer/medica mondiale

One outstanding event – not only for public re- war and conflict zones” was even more effec- nalist Chantal Louis published a biography (in lations but also for the organization as a whole tive. The goal of the campaign is to win more German) about Monika Hauser and her mis- – was the awarding of the Right Livelihood support for women victims. Interested persons sion in June. In the months that followed, Award, the so-called Alternative Nobel Prize, to are asked to do things such as distribute infor- around 250 interested persons took advantage founder Monika Hauser. According to the pan- mational material or be a “force for action” and of the opportunity to hear and see the founder el, she won the award “for her tireless commit- publish a statement condemning violence of medica mondiale in person in one of the ment to working with women who have experi- against women on the campaign website author’s three readings in Cologne, Berlin, and enced the most horrific sexual violence in www.im-einsatz.org. The centrepiece of the Marburg. some of the most dangerous countries in the campaign is the “Women on the march” dis- world, and campaigning for them to receive so- play of 36 shop-window mannequins repre- As founder and managing director of the or- cial recognition and compensation”. When the senting thousands of women and girl victims ganization, Monika Hauser is a highly sought- winning of the award was announced to the of rape. It was presented in Cologne in August after guest at a wide variety of events. For ex- public in September, countless requests from and then in Berlin in October, and received ample, in 2008, she gave a presentation to the the media at times literally swamped the med- great public acclaim. The medica mondiale ac- International Conference of Women Farmers in ica mondiale telephone system. In the months tion groups assisted with the planning, prepa- South Tyrol and to the Federal Conference for that followed, many editorial offices tried to get ration, setup and taking down of the display. Depth Psychology in Lindau, as well as an hor- an interview with the laureate, and hundreds The total of 105 activists from the 13 action rifying speech on Muhammad Yunus at the of articles were written about the work of med- groups throughout Germany, however, did a lot Corine Prize ceremony in Munich – overall 17 ica mondiale – an excellent opportunity for in- more than that: they organized 35 events, in- speeches and presentations were made by her. creasing public awareness of sexualized vio- cluding informational evenings and benefit per- As far as presentations are concerned, medica lence against women and girls and for de- formances, in Gelsenkirchen, Wuppertal, Duis- mondiale was also represented at internation- manding more support for the victims on the burg, and other cities. al events, primarily in the areas of human political level. rights and trauma work. These events includ- “Nicht aufhören anzufangen – Eine Ärztin im ed conferences on peace and safety policy and Thanks to the increased awareness of the or- Einsatz für kriegstraumatisierte Frauen” (Nev- on justice and compensation for survivors of ganization, the recently launched medica mon- er stop setting out – a doctor acts on behalf of sexualized violence, among other things. diale campaign “Action on behalf of women in war traumatized women) – under this title, jour-

20 Annual Report 2008: medica mondiale in public Soliciting donations

The work of medica mondiale depends on the commitment and donations of many people in Germany and other countries. Without that support, medica mondiale cannot help women in war and conflict zones. Donations are also important because they enable the organization to provide aid to women in forgotten crisis regions, for which medica mondiale receives no public funding. For 2008, medica mondiale set itself the goal of recruiting even more donors so that the organization could provide even more women with the medical, psychosocial, and legal aid that they need to survive. Other goals for 2008 were to increase the number of supporters and to improve communication with the donors.

The positive trend in donation income contin- 2,529 donors, i.e., nearly 25 per cent, ex- In the beginning of 2008, medica mondiale ued in 2008: Compared to the previous year, pressed their commitment to the cause of therefore undertook an exhaustive analysis of donations increased by approx. 77 per cent to medica mondiale with regular donations. the donors communication strategy and asked about 2,694,000 Euros. Whereas in 2007 the Thanks to these donations, long-term projects the donors’ specifically how they would like to total number of people who supported the and sustainable changes are possible. Helping receive notifications from the organization. Al- work of medica mondiale with a donation was women overcome the effects of violence re- though the majority felt that they were basical- 7,361, the number of donors rose to 10,853 in quires a continuous and long-term commit- ly well-informed, the wish for more proximity, 2008, which represents an increase of approx. ment. more success stories, and more detailed de- 47 per cent. This increase in income from do- scriptions of the local work and projects was nations is to a certain extent due to Monika Better communication with donors expressed. During the course of the year, one Hauser’s winning of the Right Livelihood Award For medica mondiale it is a matter of course to of the ways in which medica mondiale fulfilled at the end of the year, as well as to the suc- inform its donors in an open and transparent this wish was with “memo”, the brochure for cessful implementation of measures for solic- manner as to how their donations are being donors with its new contents-related format. iting donations. used to help women in war and crisis zones and what has been achieved for women. In Beginning of the “Action” campaign Around 83 per cent of the donations are not communicating with the donors, medica mon- In August, medica mondiale launched the earmarked for a specific purpose. medica mon- diale makes every effort to take their wishes in- fundraising and communication campaign en- diale is thus able to respond quickly to current to account in terms of what type of information titled “Action on behalf of women in war and challenges and allocate resources to where is provided and how often. This is more than crisis zones”. The goal of this campaign is to in- they are most urgently needed – for example, just a token of esteem; it also contributes to form more people about the mission of med- when a local women’s aid organization urgent- economic and efficient use of communication ica mondiale, to expand the base of promoters, ly needs aid because of a major conflict. resources. and to increase the number of donors. Twelve prominent figures from society, politics, culture, and business were acquired as campaign pro- moters. In addition, numerous organizations, networks, and associations supported the campaign as either sustaining or funding part- ners.

With brochures, free advertising, the campaign website www.im-einsatz.org, and also the cam- paign display “Women on the march” and ac- tions in various German cities, medica mondi- ale is calling for more commitment in the scope of this campaign.

Campaign goodwill embassador Jenny Jürgens (left) with Monika Hauser in Berlin © Stefanie Keienburg/medica mondiale

Annual Report 2008: Soliciting donations 21 The medica mondiale team in September 2008 © Jürgen Siegmann/medica mondiale medica mondiale e.V.

Association, administrative bodies and duties

medica mondiale e. V. is a registered, nonprofit association with head- 2008: Eva-Maria Bruchhaus, Elisabeth Haines, and Dr. Monika Hauser quarters in Cologne. Its administrative bodies are the General Assembly as Executive Member of the Board. and the Board. The General Assembly convenes once a year, and ac- cepts and approves the Board’s Annual Report. Any individual who is ac- The Board met ten times in 2008 and discussed the strategic and fi- tively involved in the fulfilment of the association’s goals can become an nancial growth of the association. Among other things, it decided that active member, pending approval by the Board. Any individual or corpo- medica mondiale would become more involved in the Democratic Re- rate body wishing to support the goals of the association with a financial public of the Congo. In addition, the Board approved the collaboration contribution may become a sustaining member. with the newly founded “Medica Mondiale Foundation Switzerland”. Ex- ecutive Board Member Monika Hauser is represented on the board of The Board is made up of at least three persons elected to three year the Swiss foundation. The goal of the foundation is to provide financial terms by the General Assembly. The Board Members are volunteers, al- support to the mission of medica mondiale e. V. In order to meet the in- though one of the members may be a salaried employee of the organi- creasing demands on the organization, the Board also decided to add to zation. All arrangements regarding the salaried position are made ex- the existing staff. clusively by the volunteer Board Members. The Board manages the as- sociation. It is responsible for the contents-related direction of the work In 2008, the main office was staffed by 31 salaried employees (some of based on the association’s goals and the budget, and is in charge of whom were part-time), eight assistants, one trainee, and eight interns, business management. The following persons were Board Members in who were assisted by 22 volunteer staff members. In addition, a total of

22 Annual Report 2008: Structure of the Association 15 German and international counsellors worked for medica mondiale on a consultant basis in the international projects – their jobs were to provide basic and advanced training to local national staff. medica mondiale e. V. is a member of VENRO e. V., the association of German non-governmental organizations. It is also active in Forum Men- schenrechte, a coalition of German NGOs dedicated to improving human rights protection, in the Deutscher Fundraising Verband e. V., a German fundraising association, in People In Aid, a worldwide federation of de- velopment and humanitarian aid organizations, and in Arbeitskreis Frauen und Gesundheit, a German Women and Health Working Com- mittee. medica mondiale e. V. also collaborates with numerous interna- tional organizations dedicated to the subject of wartime violence against women.

You can download our association by laws at www.medicamondiale.org.

Volunteer members of the Munich Action Group telling people about the mission of medica mondiale. © Mandy Bauer/medica mondiale

Organizational Chart of medica mondiale

General Assembly

Board

Executive Management

International Trauma Politics and Press and Fund- Office Projects Work Human Rights Public raising Finances Management Relations

Annual Report 2008: Structure of the Association 23 Kosovo © Sybille Fezer/medica mondiale

Liberia © Karin Griese/medica mondiale Afghanistan © Lizette Potgieter/medica mondiale

Financial report

Income the United Nations High Commissioner for tive unit in Cologne. In total, income in 2008 rose by 36.1 per cent Human Rights, the Women’s World Day of as against the previous year to 4,315,301 Prayer, the Danish Embassy in Kabul and the The share of advertising and administration Euros. Donations increased 75 per cent as FOSI – Foundation Open Society Institute. costs – totalling 1,109,744 Euros – amounts compared with the previous year to 2,657,467 to 29.3 per cent and is divided into 14 per cent Euros1. The donations are made up of free do- Expenses for administration and 15.3 per cent spent on nations and those which are tied to a specific Total expenses in 2008 rose 21.3 per cent advertising, donation accounts and service for purpose. in comparison with the previous year to donators as well as for general public relations. 3,781,474 Euros. A total of 2,671,730 Euros, The grants and subsidies rose by 3.6 per cent about 70.7 per cent of total expenses was ex- Result to 1,420,462 Euros. These grants and subsi- penses for projects, the share of that made up Income in 2008 exceeded expenses by dies for projects of public and private sponsors by spending on projects abroad is 58.7 per 533,827 Euros and flow to reserves. mainly come from: the German Federal Min- cent as well as a further 8,9 per cent for areas istry of Economic Cooperation and Develop- of domestic project work (Human Rights and ment, the German Federal Foreign Office in Trauma work) and 3.1 per cent applies to the Berlin, Zivik – Civil Conflict Management of ifa statutory awarness raising, information and ad- (Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations e.V.), vocacy work of medica mondiale. The project the Reconstruction Loan Corporation (KfW) via expenditure includes direct project costs and 1 The other interest and similar income of 42,601 Euros German Agro Action, the German Embassy in the spending on project support including the shown separately in the Profit and Loss Account was Kabul, the Sigrid Rausing Trust, the Office of management of the projects from the execu- allocated to the Income.

24 Annual Report 2008: Financial report Grants and benefits 2008 0 € 100,000 € 200,000 € 300,000 €

BMZ* 300,159 € German Federal Foreign Office 278,511 € ZIVIK** 168,165 € KfW***/German Agro Action 157,751 €

German Embassy in Kabul 124,605 € Sigrid Rausing Trust 80,054 € OHCHR 71,832 € Women’s World Day of Prayer 61,340 € Danish Embassy in Kabul 40,915 € Foundation Open Society Institute 37,978 € UNHCR 36,049 € Shelter Foundation 30,000 € * German Federal Ministry for Economic Louis Leitz Foundation 23,500 € Cooperation and Development ** Civil Conflict Management of the ifa (Institute UNFPA 7,738 € for Foreign Relations e.V.) Others 1,866 € *** Reconstruction Loan Corporation

Expenditure for international projects 2008 0 € 500.000 € 1.000.000 €

medica mondiale Afghanistan 1,040,280 € medica mondiale Liberia 464,529 € Democratic Republic of the Congo 239,120 € Medica Kosova 205,624€ medica Tirana 123,025 € Project funds 85,393 € Diverse projects 60,328 €

Income 2008 Expenses 2008

Other operating income Other interest and Interdisciplinary trauma work Advertising, donors service 1.8 % (78,668 €) similar income 1.0 % 2.6 % (98,111 €) and general public relations (42,601 €) 15.3 % (580,786 €) Fines 2.7 % Human rights work (116,103 €) 6.3 % (236,433 €) Grants and Awareness raising benefits and information work 32.9 % 3.1 % (118,886 €) (1,420,462 €)

Donations 61.6 % Administra- (2,657,467 €) tion 14.0 % (528,958 €)

International projects 58.7 % (2,218,300 €)

Annual Report 2008: Financial report 25 Profit and loss account from January 1 until December 31, 2008

medica mondiale e.V., Köln

2008 Previous year EUR EUR TEUR TEUR

1. Income from grants and benefits 1,420,462.32 1,371

2. Donations and similar income 2,773,569.08 1,697

3. Other operating income 78,668.24 4,272,699.64 84 3,152

4. Personnel expenses

a) Wages and salaries 1,048,895.95 819 b) Social contributions, old-age pension 407,843.59 1,456,739.54 319 1.138

5. Depreciations on intangible and tangible assets 66,991.92 40

6. Other operating expenses

a) Fees 489,109.38 382 b) Travel expenses and vehicle costs 322,394.57 229 c) Rent and other premises costs 209,633.80 215 d) Assurances, contributions and counselling 65,944.61 87 e) Office supplies 31,351.40 30 f) Other administrative supplies 50,593.08 60 g) Incidental bank charges 13,553.28 11 h) Advertising and representation expenses 417,536.06 355 i) Other expenses 90,772.21 69 j) Training, further education 80,636.26 98 k) Grants, benefits to third parties 486,143.66 2,257,668.31 400 1,936

Interim result + 491,299.87 + 38

7. Other interest and similar income 42,600.98 19

8. Depreciations on marketable securities 0.00 5

9. Interest and similar expenses 74.14 0

10. Revenue from ordinary activities/ Annual surplus + 533,826.71 + 52

Excerpt from the report on the audit of the annual financial statements as of 31st December 2008 by the audit and tax consulting company Solidaris Revisions-GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft – Steuerberatungsgesellschaft, Cologne of 14th September 2009:

Certificate: “We have examined the annual financial statements – consisting of the balance sheet Our audit activities to obtain supporting evidence for the audit mainly comprise analytical audit and the profit and loss account – including the accounting of medica mondiale e. V., Cologne, for the activities, plausibility checks and checks on individual cases. We determined the scope of our checks financial year from 1st January to 31st December 2008. on individual cases on the basis of the spot-check procedure of deliberate selection.

The accounting and the preparation of the annual financial statements in accordance with the We are of the opinion that our audit provides an adequately reliable basis for our assessment within the generally accepted accounting principles are the responsibility of the statutory representatives of the scope of the audit engagement with which we were entrusted. association. Our audit has not led to any objections being raised. Our task is to give an assessment of the annual financial statements including the accounting on the basis of the examination carried out by us. The checks made by us were within the scope necessary for According to our assessment on the basis of findings gained during the audit, the annual financial the examination of the probative force of the accounting and required for the examination of the statements are in compliance with the generally accepted principles of accounting.“ posting of, the supporting evidence for and the appropriateness of the valuations of balance-sheet items.

26 Annual Report 2008: Financial report 0 6,740 31,351 80,636 50,593 65,945 66,992 13,553 90,846 417,536 486,144 489,109 322,395 209,634 Total 29.3% -6,998 37,830 44,291 12,811 26,352 50,048 18,102 13,553 39,732 15,422 59,592 -85,700 Total 558,617 558,617 1,45 326,089 1.109,744 3,781,474 expenses 1,195,444 3,781,474 administrative 2008 advertising and advertising expenses 0 0 0 0 0 34 20 3,031 4,270 7,894 12,162 25,504 214,928 312,944 555,282 555,282 580,786 public relations public service and general and service 8,541 7,529 -6,998 27,570 13,145 50,015 37,830 23,321 44,291 13,553 18,082 59,592 640,162 343,689 528,958 -111,204 Administrationdonors Advertising, 0 70.7% 24,241 91,447 54,181 85,700 13,250 46,555 42,806 15,896 449,377 898,122 306,972 493,142 150,042 Total project 2,671,730 2,586,030 expenses/ statutory mission statutory 0 0 3 0 0 0 18 137 6,577 1,900 4,085 68,767 26,048 11,349 107,537 118,886 0 0 638 2,457 1,526 3,836 6,063 4,790 1,380 60,171 22,911 (Human Rights Rights (Human information and Trauma work) Trauma and work 0 22,577 38,016 51,439 10,789 40,492 48,444 projects activitiesand raising 493,142 722,261 149,814 386,901 55,898 124,983 25,059 2,166,860 311,632 International Domestic Awareness 2,218,300 334,544 s e s n e k.parties third to benefits Grants, g.charges bank Incidental expenses representation h.and Advertising 22,042 e.supplies Office f.supplies administrative Other a. Fees a. i. i. expenses* Other j.education further and Training b. Travel expenses and vehicle costs vehicle and expenses Travel b. 242,715 c.costs premises other and Rent d. Assurances, contributions and counselling and contributions d. Assurances, 14,498 p and tangible assets tangible and x otal expenses otal E Expenses Expenses 1. Personnel expenses Personnel 1. T * including interest and similar expenses of 74.14 Euros (see profit and loss account, item 9) item account, loss and profit (see Euros 74.14 of expenses similar and interest including * Expenses according to cost types and sector 2008 cost types and sector to Expenses according roundings by caused are discrepancies Insignificant 2. Depreciations on intangible on Depreciations 2. Interim result sum EXPENSES EXPENSES sum result Interim 3. Other operating expenses operating Other 3. Apportionment of indirect costs indirect of Apportionment Percentage project expenses/statutory mission expenses/statutory project Percentage Advertising and administrative expenses administrative and Advertising

Annual Report 2008: Financial report 27 Balance sheet as of December 31st, 2008

medica mondiale e.V., Cologne

Assets 2008 Previous year

EUR EUR TEUR TEUR

A. Capital assets

I. Intangible assets

Concessions, industrial property rights and similar rights and assets as well as licenses in such rights and assets 8,067.13 6

II. Tangible assets

1. Land, land rights and buildings including buildings on third-party land 45,280.00 0

2. Other equipment, operating and office equipment 116,597.59 96

3. Payments on account and assets under construction 0.00 169,944.72 62 164

B. Current assets

I. Receivables and other assets 99,627.56 26

II. Securities 393,600.00 691

III. Cash-in-hand, bank balances 1,785,291.53 908

C. Deferred charges

1,360.77 0

2,449,824.58 1,789

DR Congo © Cornelia Suhan/medica mondiale Liberia © Daniela Gierschmann/medica mondiale

28 Annual Report 2008: Financial report Liabilities 2008 Previous year

EUR EUR TEUR TEUR

A. Equity capital

Effective 1. 1. 1,357,101.22 1,305

Annual surplus + 533,826.71 1,890,927.93 + 52 1,357

B. Special items for investment subsidies 93,203.75 112

C. Reserves

Other Reserves 57,950.78 53

D. Liabilities

1. Trade accounts payable 108,998.01 93

2. Other liabilities 48,517.72 157,515.73 13 106

E. Deferred credits 250,226.39 161

2,449,824.58 1,789

Albania © Anne Rose Heck/medica mondiale

Annual Report 2008: Financial report 29 From the beginning to today

Chronicle

Bosnia and Herzegovina 1993 © Cornelia Gürtler/medica mondiale; Afghanistan 2003 © medica mondiale ; Bosnia and Herzegowina 1994 © Markus Stoffel/medica mondiale; Liberia 2007 © Sybille Fezer/medica mondiale

1992 - Gynaecologist Monika Hauser read 1998 - medica mondiale hosted an interna- 2003 - Publication of the “Handbook for pro- newspaper reports about the many women vic- tional professional conference entitled “War, fessionals working with traumatized women” – tims of rape in Bosnia. She went to the war Gender, and Traumatization” and collaborated medica mondiale’s first application-oriented, zone and started building a centre for trauma- with 200 experts on the preparation of a list of scientifically backed publication on working tized women in Zenica. demands for the German federal government. with war-traumatized women and girls.

1993 - Around 4,000 Bosnian women received 1999 - In the aftermath of the NATO offensive 2004 - medica mondiale Afghanistan pub- general medical, gynaecological and psycho- against Yugoslavia and the subsequent Kosovo lished a documentary on forced marriage. logical care in the first year. For her commit- war, additional therapy centres were set up in Around one fifth of the women were under 15 ment, Monika Hauser was named “Woman of Tirana (Albania) and Gjakova (Kosovo). years old when they were married. the Year” by the German news program ARD- Tagesthemen. 2000 - In response to massive escalation of 2005 - medica mondiale started the “Time to forced prostitution in Kosovo, medica mondi- speak” campaign, in which the rapes commit- 1994 - “Marta”, the gynaecology ambulance, ale and other organizations lobbied for the en- ted in World War II were finally brought to the a transporter rebuilt as a gynaecology treat- forcement of the strict ordinance of the United fore, 60 years after the end of the war. ment room, set out from Cologne to Zenica. Nations forbidding the trafficking of human be- ings. 2006 - A medica mondiale women’s centre 1995 - Medica Zenica started officially certi- was set up in Liberia. Two out of three women fied training sessions for women. The women 2001 - After the fall of the Taliban regime, for were raped during the 14- year civil war. can train to become tailors, hairdressers, the first time ever medica mondiale was able to weavers, or upholsterers. Computer and Eng- act on behalf of women in Afghanistan. The or- 2007 - The United Nations declared the lish courses are also offered. ganization sponsored a shelter for widows and Democratic Republic of the Congo as the most single mothers and their children. needy region in the world; medica mondiale 1996 - Monika Hauser declined the German provided additional support to a local women’s Federal Cross of Merit because of the decision 2002 - “Damit die Welt es erfährt” – under this organization. by the Conference of German Ministers of In- title, medica mondiale published an extensive ternal Affairs to deport Bosnian refugees. documentary (in German language) after the 2008 - On the occasion of its 15th anniversary, ruling in the rape trials in the Bosnian city of medica mondiale launched its large-scale 1997- medica mondiale arranged to provide in- Foča. (short version in English: Sexualized “Action” campaign. Monika Hauser received formation and contacts for the prosecuting violence and enslavement on trial before the the Right Livelihood Award (aka the Alternative body of the International Criminal Court in the International Criminal Court for the former Nobel Prize). Hague in the Yugoslavian Tribunal and ob- Yugoslavia. The Foča Trial) served the proceedings.

30 Annual Report 2008: Chronicle We cannot accomplish our mission without you!

In order to gain more supporters, we launched the “Action on behalf of women and girls in war and conflict zones” campaign. It offers numerous opportunities for you to get involved and help us:

Donations instead of gifts – there are many “ACTION” Campaign Give the gift of hope personal occasions Get the campaign with its “Women on the As an alternative to flowers and wreaths in Birthdays, baptisms, weddings, anniversaries, March” display to come to your town and case of death, ask your friends, acquaintances, passing an exam, or retirement – ask for a do- generate publicity for the important work of and relatives to make a monetary contribution nation to the medica mondiale projects instead medica mondiale. to medica mondiale. This alternative means of gifts. As a company, you can donate to hope for a new life for women. medica mondiale instead of buying gifts for your clients, and then tell them what you did. Bazaars and flea markets Old books, old bikes or homemade cakes – Benefit events hold a bazaar or a flea market yourself or with A concert, a benefit run, a reading, or a murder your friends. Donate the proceeds to medica mystery evening – all of the above are great op- Help out with imagination – mondiale. portunities to introduce the mission of medica there are no limits to your mondiale and collect donations. Company par- Commitment in businesses ties or annual sports competitions can also be creativity! Tell people about our mission – post a notice held to benefit medica mondiale. on the bulletin board or in your employee newsletter. Or start a rest cent initiative: where Free ads, banners, etc. everyone donates the decimal fraction of their Do you know of a newspaper, a journal, or a monthly paychecks — in other words a maxi- newsletter in which a free ad about us can be mum of 99 cents per person per month — to placed, or would you like to tell people about medica mondiale. Small contributions by medica mondiale on your own web page? Just many people add up to great things! ask, and we will send you our free ads or ban- Fines for medica mondiale ners. Court cases sometimes require payment of a Tell other parties fine. This money can be allocated to medica It is critical that as many people as possible Donation boxes mondiale as a nonprofit association for speci- learn about our needs. We will gladly provide Donation boxes on bakery shop counters, in fic project work. Tell judges, state attorneys, materials for presentations, information drugstores, at doctor’s offices – each coin adds and jury members about medica mondiale, booths, and for handing out to friends and up. and we will help you out. acquaintances.

How can I get involved? Do you have questions, suggestions, or do you need informational material? Would you like to lend out donation boxes or do you just need a few tips on how to get started? We will gladly assist and advise you. Call us at: +49 221 93 18 98-21 or e-mail us at: [email protected]. We are looking forward to your ideas and your support!

In addition to the above-mentioned possibilities, you can also donate directly to our account or online via www.medicamondiale.org. Account for donations: 45 000 163, Sparkasse KölnBonn, Sort code: 370 501 98 IBAN DE92 3705 0198 0045 0001 63, SWIFT-BIC COLSDE33

Annual Report 2008: Commitment 31 Charter

I medica mondiale is an organisation run by women for women. I medica mondiale’s outlook is feminist by nature. I medica mondiale developed from a project run jointly by Medica Köln and Medica Zenica, which aimed to combat violence towards women in Bosnia Herzegovina in the context of the war. I medica mondiale supports and assists women and girls in war zones and areas of crisis, whose physical, psychological, social or political integrity has been violated, be it by society, family or war. This support and assistance is provided irrespective of the women's and girls' politics, ethnic origin or religion. The aim is to strengthen the women's powers of self-healing and to support and demand their right to an emancipatory way of life. I medica mondiale provides urgent and long-term assistance for traumatised women and girls in war and conflict zones through the following projects: • supply of medical and psychosocial aid • support of the public medical welfare services • provision of training and further training, plus creation of employment opportunities • improvement of the state of nutrition and accommodation and of the legal situation • informing the public about the situation of women and girls and causes of and reasons for violence towards women • establishment of autonomous structures in which women are free to take action

I medica mondiale strives to secure the long-term future of these projects within autono- mous women's networks and social infrastructures. I medica mondiale works to ensure that the various forms of violence towards women and the international character of this violence are elucidated and documented. In doing this, medica mondiale works mostly with national and international women's and human rights organisations as well as with other non-governmental organizations and governmental organizations. I medica mondiale is actively opposed to all forms of nationalism and fundamentalism and is involved in the establishment of democratic structures and in national and international reconciliation processes. I medica mondiale is part of the international women's movement and actively strives to have women's rights recognised as human rights in the context of a non-hierarchical gender relationship.

medica mondiale e.V. Bank account for donations: Hülchrather Straße 4 medica mondiale e. V. 50670 Cologne Sparkasse KölnBonn Germany Sort code: 370 501 98 Tel. + 49 2 21/93 18 98-0 Account no.: 45 000 163 Fax + 49 2 21/93 18 98-1 IBAN DE92 3705 0198 0045 0001 63 [email protected] SWIFT-BIC COLSDE33 www.medicamondiale.org

Help us, so that we can act.