/ Empowering women and working against violence

cfd works in southeast Europe, Israel, Palestine and the Maghreb (Northwest Africa) with local non-government organizations (NGOs). cfd’s project partners are mostly women’s organizations. These organizations work for better access to education, jobs and medical services for women, for equality in politics and laws and they fight against violence in society and in families. cfd’s project partners are organized democratically and work for free and non-violent political action.

Empowerment as a method and a goal

Empowerment is central to the activities of the Mediterranean projects. cfd and its partner organizations see empowerment as a way of getting power for people and groups. They want to change power structures which discriminate against women so that there will be fairness between men and women. In everyday life this means safety in society for women and better access for women to resources and politics.
It is necessary for cfd to start local projects, but as more and more people know about empowerment they can start their own projects. In the «Transversal Study on Empowerment» everyone can read what cfd and its partners know about empowerment through their projects and ideas.

Working together and support

Projects which continue for a long time make it possible for cfd and its partners to work well together planning what they want to do and how to do it. In some projects, cfd gives most of the money which the project needs, in other projects, cfd makes small payments from time to time to the organization which is running the project. cfd also gives amounts of money which are smaller but very important politically to activities outside the projects: conferences, campaigns and studies make it possible for women to get new knowledge, make plans and connect with others to help to make their situation in life better.

Projects as a way of making peace

As a feminist peace organization, cfd works for equality in society and wants people to be able to speak about their different ideas on society and on projects. cfd is building a way for women to work for peace and and it is active politically against the use of violence in war and in peace. cfd supports women’s projects and works together with partner organizations in the Mediterranean area as a part of cfd’s feminist action for peace.