e. Outcomes: (adapted from WRRC self-evaluation Report, June 2011)
In less than 3 years, 46 projects have been implemented in close cooperation with partners in 7 countries across the four continents. Numerous multi-media and multi-lingual products have been realised through the projects implemented by partners of the 3 working groups.
In addition, two WRRC over-arching projects were undertaken: a database of progressive texts and resources, and a compilation and analysis of the strategies developed by WRRC(2).
In terms of achievement of the stated objectives:
Objective 1: to pioneer, develop and support strategies
Without doubt, the program has attained the aim to develop effective strategies to contest the various contextual aspects of cultural/religious legitimisation of women’s oppression. The analysis of the strategies (see footnote 2 above) describes the many effective strategies that have been developed and discusses how they were successful in their respective contexts.
The aim to develop ‘a global and coherent strategy’ should be understood in terms of bottom up coherence in strategic approaches that include essential dimensions such as recruiting various allies, use of different resources, being multi-focussed, and working on both the local and global levels. In this sense coherence has been achieved. The ‘clearing house’ function is partly realised, but needs further development.
Objective 2: to produce and disseminate multi-lingual and multimedia products
An extensive and diverse range of multi-media and multi lingual products was realised, used and improved and is available for others to utilise (see annex 2). During the 3-year span of the WRRC programme, the WLUML website expanded from 600.000 to 1.300.000 hits per month on average. In particular, SKSW / VNC has contributed significantly to the increase in the number of hits, although this increase cannot be attributed to SKSW / VNC alone. VNC’s linked website has expanded enormously from 8000 at the start to over 6,6 million hits per year in 2011. Pages in ‘new’ languages on WLUML’s website are still under construction.
In terms of media coverage, there are definite results, especially where partners themselves already had good media access and networking and could use these for WRRC’s goals . But to value the impact of this media coverage remains difficult, as is often the case.
Objective 3: to build up global momentum around SKSW
To change laws, policies and public opinion within a time frame of 2-2,5 years is difficult. There are examples of changing attitudes of key figures in (local) communities and, of course, of many women (and men) involved in the projects, but it is difficult to give concrete examples of changes of policies, laws and public opinion at the national level.
Definitely, local campaigns have been catalysed by the global campaign and the communication team has linked local activism with the international human rights agenda and platforms. Local women’s groups have enhanced their capacities to protect women’s rights. All three thematic working groups, not just SKSW, have achieved convincing results in this area.
Objective 4: to develop cross-cultural solidarity between women’s advocates in different context including Muslim and non-Muslim
Perhaps the very existence of the WRRC program, with all its partners and activities, is the most striking and impressive example of challenging the trend of fundamentalisms and of cross cultural solidarity: all three working groups united women working from different backgrounds, with different paradigms and strategic choices (for instance, to work within a religious framework or within a secular frame), making use of each other’s experiences, and helping one another to strategize.
Cross-cultural solidarity in terms of opportunities for project partners and WG members to compare and share activities and experiences across different contexts has been developed. In at least one project, women of different religious communities worked together to strengthen each other’s ability to claim property rights. Furthermore, through the solidarity appeals and campaigns of SKSW/VNC, frequently women of different religious/cultural communities supported each other’s struggles.
(2) Strategies of Resistance: Challenging the Cultural Disempowerment of Women, edited by Fatima Raja