INVEST IN GIRLS. INVEST IN THE WORLD. 2 014ANNUAL REPORT CONTENTS President’s Letter 1 Message from Our Board Chair 3 Advances for Women and Girls in 2014 5 Joan B. Dunlop Award 7 A Celebration of Bold and Independent Voices 9 Partner Spotlight: Girls’ Power Initiative 11 Grants to Partners | Fiscal Year 2014 13 Donors | Fiscal Year 2014 18 Financial Statements | Fiscal Year 2014 21 Board of Directors 24 Staff 24 Cover: In Rajasthan, India, Angeli, 11, was being forced by her parents into a marriage that was fortunately cancelled; she is now free to pursue her studies and enjoy her teenage years. Photo by Tanzeel Ur Rehman 1 IWHC 2014 ANNUAL REPORT PRESIDENT’S LETTER When I reflect on the past year, I am encouraged by all that we have achieved so far—not only as an organization, but collectively as a movement. We boldly, firmly, and successfully advocated for the rights of women and girls at the United Nations as governments negotiated a draft of what will be the “Sustainable Development Goals.” A blueprint for global economic and social development that will apply to all countries and not only developing ones, these goals will be finalized and adopted this year and used for the next 15. Thanks to the dedication and hard work of women’s rights activists from around the world, and in spite of a well-organized and often vociferous opposition, we were able to secure a goal on gender equality, as well as commitments to promote universal access to sexual and reproductive health services and to uphold reproductive rights. When these goals are adopted in September 2015, every country will be accountable for implementing policies and programs that empower women and girls and safeguard their health. While this development framework won’t be perfect, it will be an important starting point to further women’s health and rights. The next, and crucial, step will be developing adequate “ When I reflect on measures of progress on these goals—whether and how much the past year, I am governments are advancing their people’s health, economic status, and social welfare. National and local women’s groups encouraged by all that will play a critical role in holding their governments accountable. we have achieved Yet, while the passion and dedication of the women’s movement is strong, its funding is limited. A recent review found that the so far—not only as median yearly income of more than 740 women’s organizations an organization, worldwide was only $20,000. Many of our local partners face similar financial constraints. Without support from the but collectively as a International Women’s Health Coalition, they would be at risk of movement.” closing down. The world can’t afford to let that happen. It’s clear that the work of the women’s movement is far from over. There is much to be done—especially now that world leaders and policymakers seem to be moving from rhetoric to real action. At IWHC, we will continue to support and mobilize local groups and leaders and advocate for a just world where women’s rights are fully upheld. With dedicated and generous supporters like you, we can make our voices heard even louder and make a lasting impact on the lives of women and girls. Françoise Girard 2 IWHC 2014 ANNUAL REPORT 3 IWHC 2014 ANNUAL REPORT Message from OUR BOARD CHAIR As Board Chair of the International Women’s Health Coalition, I have the privilege of meeting many amazing women and girl activists from around the world. These bright young leaders are fighting against the odds and creating lasting change in their own communities. Mairamou is one of our partners from Cameroon. When she was only 12 years old, Mairamou was forced by her father to marry one of his friends, who was in his late 40s. In her region—the extreme north of Cameroon—nearly 80 percent of adolescent girls are forced into early marriages. Thankfully, Mairamou escaped her marriage—and with the help of IWHC, she and other young girls like her started a support group called APAD. Today, Mairamou and APAD travel to communities across Cameroon to educate parents, community leaders, and girls themselves about the harms of child marriage. They are the face of a new generation, standing up to injustice and proclaiming loudly that girls’ lives matter. One of the greatest hallmarks of IWHC is its ability to identify “ One of the greatest and mentor emerging leaders like Mairamou who can build strong movements in their countries. IWHC invests in these hallmarks of IWHC is young women, and gives them the tools, mentorship, and funding its ability to identify they need to succeed. Since its founding in 1984, IWHC has helped build more than 80 organizations in 60 countries. and mentor emerging Of course, social change doesn’t happen overnight. It requires leaders like Mairamou sustained pressure at the global, regional, and local levels. Ten years ago, IWHC was one of a few international organizations who can build strong calling for a global strategy to end child marriage, a practice movements in their that every year deprives 15 million girls of their rights. Thanks to this sustained advocacy, ending child marriage is now a countries.” global priority, and in 2014, the leaders of 118 countries committed to a plan of action to end this human rights violation. None of this change would be possible without your sustained support and partnership. Thank you for standing with us in advocating for gender equality and helping to realize the health and rights of women and girls. Together we can enable the next generation of girls to not only lead healthy and safe lives, but to thrive. Marlene Hess 5 IWHC 2014 ANNUAL REPORT Advances for Women and Girls in 2014 Global Development Goals Focus on Women and Girls After sustained advocacy by IWHC and our partners in the Women’s Major Group–the single platform that brings together the women’s movement worldwide at the United Nations—the UN General Assembly proposed a set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that prioritize gender equality, reproductive rights, and universal access to sexual and reproductive health care. These goals will guide government investments and programs for the next 15 years. The General Assembly will finalize the SDGs in September 2015. Sindh Province in Pakistan Outlaws Child Marriage Lawmakers in Sindh Province, which has the highest rates of child marriage in Pakistan, passed the Child Marriage Restraint Act to ban the marriage of anyone under the age of 18. Under the new law, anyone who “performs, conducts, directs, brings about or in any way facilitates any child marriage” may be subjected to fines and up to three years imprisonment. IWHC’s long-term partner Aahung, headquartered in Karachi, successfully advocated for the law despite strong opposition. U.S. Extends Abortion Coverage to Peace Corps Volunteers For decades, Peace Corps volunteers were one of the only groups of women who receive health care through the U.S. government to be denied coverage for abortion, even in cases of rape and life-threatening pregnancy. IWHC has long advocated for an end to this injustice, and in December, Congress finally lifted the restrictions. Peace Corps volunteers now receive the same reproductive health care coverage as federal employees and women who serve in the military. 6 IWHC 2014 ANNUAL REPORT Advances for Women and Girls in 2014 Abortion Legislation Advances in Argentina Governments Invest in Efforts to End Child Marriage and Female Genital Mutilation After years of stalling, Argentina’s Congress began debating a bill that would legalize Convened by the UK and UNICEF in London in July, abortion in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, the Girl Summit saw unprecedented government without exception, and require public facilities support to end female genital mutilation and child to provide the service free of charge. marriage. Financial commitments from the UK, More than 70 Congress members publicly Canada, Netherlands, and other countries totaling expressed support for the bill. IWHC will more than $65 million will support programs to end continue to provide financial support and child marriage. As a founder and co-chair of Girls technical assistance to Argentine reproductive Not Brides USA, IWHC helped facilitate discussions rights groups as Congress debates the bill with governments and NGO partners at the Girl throughout 2015. Summit in London, as well as at its satellite event in Washington, D.C. United Nations Adopts Progressive Peru Clears Path for Legal Abortion Services Resolution on Child Marriage Abortion to save the life or health of a woman IWHC worked closely with the governments has been legal in Peru since 1924, but the of Zambia and Canada to put forward a UN absence of national guidelines meant doctors resolution on the elimination of child, early, could not provide this life-saving treatment. and forced marriage. The resolution was co- IWHC joined its local partner PROMSEX in sponsored by 118 governments and was approved pushing the government to take action after in November by the UN General Assembly, this 90-year delay. New guidelines allow demonstrating strong political will from the Global medical staff to perform an abortion to protect a South to eliminate this harmful practice. woman’s health up to 22 weeks of pregnancy. 7 IWHC 2014 ANNUAL REPORT JOAN B. DUNLOP AWARD: NINUK WIDYANTORO On June 9, 2014, IWHC presented the second annual Joan B. Dunlop Award to Dr. Ninuk Widyantoro, co-founder of the Women’s Health Foundation in Jakarta, Indonesia. A determined and highly effective activist, Ninuk played a key role in reforming Indonesia’s national health law in 2011.