'Gender'
refers to the roles and responsibilities of women and
men that are created in our families, our societies and
our cultures. (Source: ABC of Women Worker's Rights and Gender Equality,
ILO, Geneva, 2000)
In its broadest sense, 'Empowerment' is the expansion
of freedom of choice and action. It means increasing
one's authority and control over the resources and decisions
that affect one's life.
Utthan
works on this aspect withaperspective of gender equality
and justice, as women and marginalized communities face
the maximum consequences of negative socio-political and
environmental processes, due to exclusion and violation
of their human rights. However, they do have the strength
and power to change this situation, thus confirming that
women's empowerment and their full partnership on basis
of equality in all spheres of society, including participation
on the decision-making and access to power are fundamental
for achievement of equality, development and peace.
The major
thrust of this program has been on ensuring gender equality,
exercising gender rights, building collective strength,
gender sensitization and mainstreaming it in all the
initiatives.
Utthan has also made a conscious effort to influence
other formal and informal institutional structures and
mechanisms that affect the lives of thousands of women
and vulnerable communities.
Utthan
has tried to build upon this aspect in the following ways:
-
Building
women's institutions to initiate a grassroots women's
movement
-
Strengthening
women's participation in governance through Panchayati
Raj.
-
Providing
access to safe, reliable and sufficient water, sanitation
and hygiene.
-
Improving
community's health status and women's reproductive health
rights.
-
Encouraging
savings, credit and income generation activities for economic
empowerment.
-
Building
women and vulnerable community's access to resources,
land and property ownership and rights
-
Mainstreaming
gender just perspective in all possible institutions and
programs.
'Gender'
refers to the roles and responsibilities of women and
men that are created in our families, our societies and
our cultures.
Utthan
works on this aspect withaperspective of gender equality
and justice, as women and marginalized communities face
the maximum consequences of negative socio-political and
environmental processes, due to exclusion and violation
of their human rights. However, they do have the strength
and power to change this situation, thus confirming that
women's empowerment and their full partnership on basis
of equality in all spheres of society, including participation
on the decision-making and access to power are fundamental
for achievement of equality, development and peace.