International Federation of Women Lawyers
Encyclopedia
The International Federation of Women Lawyers (IFWL), in Spanish Federacion Internacional de Abogadas (FIDA), is an International Non-Governmental Organization
(NGO) that enhances the status of women and children by providing legal aid, legal literacy and education programs, and through advocacy, law reform, research and publications.
and three other lawyers founded an earlier organization called the International Federation of Women Lawyers in Paris in 1928.
The Federacion Internacional de Abogadas was established in 1944 in Mexico city
.
FIDA obtained United Nations Consultative status in 1954.
FIDA works with the United Nations Economic and Social Council
(ECOSOC), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the International Labour Organization
(ILO).
FIDA publishes La Abogada Newsletter four times a year in Spanish and English, for members only.
Every two years FIDA publishes La Abogada Internacional in English, French and Spanish.
In 2011 UNESCO said of the organization: "The quality of the work of the IFWL, a professional organization whose geographical extension is fair and representativeness relatively balanced, is undoubted. Admitted to Category C in 1961, it has co-operated with UNESCO since 1953 in the context of the consultative arrangements. It received a financial contribution from UNESCO for organizing the international congress of lawyers (1989). Its co-operation with UNESCO, which is operational in nature, has slackened in the last few years. It might consider drawing closer to NGOs that operate in similar fields.
World Conference on Women
, which was held in Nairobi
.
FIDA Kenya was affiliated to the Federation International De Abogadas until 1993.
As of 2011 FIDA Kenya had over 600 members.
FIDA Kenya prepared a "shadow report" on the Kenyan Government's 2007 report on the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
. The FIDA Kenya report questioned the accuracy of the government report and raised concerns about lack of government commitment to the advancement of women.
It provides free legal services to women and children, provides education and publications to help explain the law, and runs seminars, workshops and conferences.
Pamphlets cover subjects such as juvenile delinquency, rights of women, forced and early marriages and the effects of female circumcision.
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
(NGO) that enhances the status of women and children by providing legal aid, legal literacy and education programs, and through advocacy, law reform, research and publications.
History and activities
The Spanish politician and feminist lawyer Clara CampoamorClara Campoamor
Clara Campoamor was a Spanish politician and feminist best known for her advocacy for women's rights and suffrage during the writing of the Spanish constitution of 1931. A child of a working class family, Campoamor began work as a seamstress at age 13, later working in a number of government...
and three other lawyers founded an earlier organization called the International Federation of Women Lawyers in Paris in 1928.
The Federacion Internacional de Abogadas was established in 1944 in Mexico city
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
.
FIDA obtained United Nations Consultative status in 1954.
FIDA works with the United Nations Economic and Social Council
United Nations Economic and Social Council
The Economic and Social Council of the United Nations constitutes one of the six principal organs of the United Nations and it is responsible for the coordination of the economic, social and related work of 14 UN specialized agencies, its functional commissions and five regional commissions...
(ECOSOC), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the International Labour Organization
International Labour Organization
The International Labour Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that deals with labour issues pertaining to international labour standards. Its headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland. Its secretariat — the people who are employed by it throughout the world — is known as the...
(ILO).
FIDA publishes La Abogada Newsletter four times a year in Spanish and English, for members only.
Every two years FIDA publishes La Abogada Internacional in English, French and Spanish.
In 2011 UNESCO said of the organization: "The quality of the work of the IFWL, a professional organization whose geographical extension is fair and representativeness relatively balanced, is undoubted. Admitted to Category C in 1961, it has co-operated with UNESCO since 1953 in the context of the consultative arrangements. It received a financial contribution from UNESCO for organizing the international congress of lawyers (1989). Its co-operation with UNESCO, which is operational in nature, has slackened in the last few years. It might consider drawing closer to NGOs that operate in similar fields.
Regional affiliates
As of 2011 there were affiliated organizations and individuals in 73 countries:- Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Togo.
- Argentina, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Netherlands Antilles, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, United States of America, Venezuela.
- Bangladesh, Hong Kong/China, India, Indonesia, Iran - Islamic Republic of, Israel, Japan, Republic of Korea, Lebanon, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan/China, Thailand.
- Australia, New Zealand.
- Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Ghana
FIDA Ghana was founded in 1974. The association set up the first Legal Aid Program in Ghana in 1985, mainly targetting indigent women and children. To help people understand the law, FIDA Ghana has developed booklets that present some of the existing laws affecting the status of women and children in simple English, and in translations into the Dagbani, Ewe, Ga, and Akan languages.Kenya
FIDA Kenya was formed in 1985 after the third United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
World Conference on Women
World Conference on Women
The World Conference on Women was established in 1975 during the International Women's Year.The most recent conference was the Fourth World Conference on Women....
, which was held in Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
.
FIDA Kenya was affiliated to the Federation International De Abogadas until 1993.
As of 2011 FIDA Kenya had over 600 members.
FIDA Kenya prepared a "shadow report" on the Kenyan Government's 2007 report on the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women is an international convention adopted in 1979 by the United Nations General Assembly....
. The FIDA Kenya report questioned the accuracy of the government report and raised concerns about lack of government commitment to the advancement of women.
Nigeria
FIDA-Nigeria was founded in May 1982 to promote the welfare of women and children and remove harmful laws.It provides free legal services to women and children, provides education and publications to help explain the law, and runs seminars, workshops and conferences.
Pamphlets cover subjects such as juvenile delinquency, rights of women, forced and early marriages and the effects of female circumcision.