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Women, Peace and Security Initiatives: Angola
In-country | International

In-Country

Income Generation Projects for Women
Evangelical Congregational Church in Angola (IECA)
Angola was ravaged by a 27-year civil war, which has devastated its people. They are suffering from extreme poverty, malnutrition, disease, and hunger. Natural disasters and the HIV/AIDS pandemic have added to the suffering. In the rural Huila Province, the IECA has secured a plot of land, which church members, led by the women pastors of that particular area, have fenced in and are beginning to develop. Groups of women are working together in establishing small "home industries" which generate income for the participants and their families. They are beginning with income generation projects in the making of jams and sewing projects, but funds are needed in order to get these small projects off to a good start. To learn more and/or contribute to these projects, please click here

Women’s Refugee Empowerment Fund
Sponsored by Search for Common Ground
Search for Common Ground is sponsoring a project based in Angola, which targets 300 returning refugee women. Through this project, they will have access to training and microcredit to enable them to rebuild their lives. During Angola's 27-year civil war, women were able to assume strong leadership roles. With the end of the war in 2002, women have ironically experienced a loss of power through rising gender violence, a lack of economic opportunities, and no legal right to own land. Refugee women returning to Angola face those challenges and more. To reintegrate refugee women into community life, this project will provide training and funds that will enable women to undertake public awareness campaigns on social issues important to them and enable them develop micro-credit associations. GlobalGiving.com has set up an online donation counter for this project. To read more and/or donate, click here.

The Role of Women in Peace-Building and Reconciliation Process
December 2-3, 2003
Rede Mulher will organize on December 2-3 a workshop in Luanda on "The Role of Women in Peacebuilding and Reconciliation Process". The objective of the workshop is to share ideas, to identify strategies and programmes on the role of women in peace building. Around 60 participants from civil society, MP caucus and the Ministry of women's affairs will attend. The seminar is supported by UNIFEM. For more information contact Rede Mulher.

Angola: Rebuilding the Country
The death of Jonas Savimbi, leader of rebel movement UNITA, has finally paved the way for a peace deal in Angola, bringing an end to nearly thirty years of civil war. Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA) calls Angola citizens to write to their representatives to work towards rebuilding the country, resettling communities and reintegrating the population. Also, ACTSA aims to place back Angola on the international agenda. For a sample letter and your representative contact info Click Here. For more information visit Action for Southern Africa.

International

Stop the forcible eviction of families
March 2004
In recent years, thousands of families living in the Angolan capital, Luanda, have been driven from their homes. Unless action is taken now many other evictions, not just in Luanda but across Angola, may follow. During Angola's long civil war, Luanda became home to hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people. Many of these families, due to the lack of available housing, were compelled to build their own houses wherever a plot of land was available. However, the end of the war has led to increased pressure on prime land by local elites and international businesses. TAKE ACTION by writing to the President of Angola urging him to put an end to forced evictions and to ensure that the draft land laws are based on human rights and include protection against forced evictions. Click Here to contribute to Amnesty International's Angola campaing.