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International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women 2008
To commemorate International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women 2008, Ashoka recognizes the role of Ashoka Fellows who are making real and sufficient progress towards ending poverty.
These Ashoka Fellows are representative of social entrepreneurs around the world who are fighting to eliminate violence against women worldwide. Ashoka takes this opportunity to raise awareness of their ground-breaking approaches and relentless commitment to creating a more just and prosperous world for all.
Wynona is working to break the cycle of domestic abuse in rural communities. Drawing on her experience as a survivor of domestic violence, 15 years as a long-haul trucker, and legal training, Wynona brings legal and social services to women and children battling domestic violence in secluded areas. The program has grown, offering a full cycle of support from initial relief from abuse through self-sufficiency. Wynona and her staff log more than 45,000 miles a year across the state in four mobile offices, helping more than 450 families escape the travesty of domestic violence.
Help for Women and Children Foundation
Abused by her mother during her childhood, Krystyna is now changing the way domestic violence is handled in Poland. Her organization works to build alliances with the police and other authorities, create centers that ensure the safety and confidentiality of victims, and shift the focus from the perpetrator to the victim. By focusing on the barriers that keep victims stuck in this cycle, Krystyna enables victims to regain control over their lives. Through advocacy at the state level, Krystyna shelters violence victims by providing them with a safe and comfortable environment from which to defend their rights.
Cochabamba Home Worker’s Union
Bolivian women working as domestic help have traditionally resigned themselves to violent and discriminatory work conditions. To counter this injustice, Casimira is empowering these women by changing the societal perception of this population. A former domestic worker, she sensitizes employers, raises public awareness, and educates misinformed indigenous rural families who send their daughters to the cities in the hope of a better life. Casimira also creates surrogate communities to support and empower domestic workers far from their homes. From 2006-2007 Rodriguez was Bolivia’s Justice Minister - thus becoming the first indigenous Quecha Indian woman to serve in the Cabinet.
RDOCC
When Allah was very young, his mother was the victim of an honor killing, a practice in which male family members kill female family members suspected of committing adultery. Allah believes that the publicity of these cases, coupled with intervention in the villages where they occur, is necessary to bring an end to this brutal practice. His strategy involves encouraging sympathetic family members to divulge details, which are then publicized in newspapers and used in police investigations. If family members do not cooperate, RDOCC approaches village members troubled by such a killing and organize a public meeting to discuss human rights.