Guatemala City. Photo: Thomas Flensted
Marginalised women and young people
have their voices heard in decision-making, and their role in society is recognised making governance systems responsive to marginalized peoples’ lives.
Civil society partners working with Oxfam amplify their voices by using networks and platforms at various levels to advocate and challenge gender inequality and injustice. The global COVID-19 pandemic and its stay-at-home measures leave young girls and women even more prone to the injustice of partner violence and forced labour.
Solidarity and collective feminist action can amplify feminist voices and increase representation in order to challenge power structures and transform gender dynamics that often end in harm. When developing their capacity to organize and act collectively, progressive feminist civil society actors become key drivers of change. They collaborate with movements, initiatives, and organisations at national, regional and global levels to advance agendas and shape policy and practice.
Case Stories
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Youth in Burkina Faso demand quality technical education
If young people are not represented in decision-making processes, their key priorities are often forgotten by those in power. This has been the case in Burkina Faso where young people, despite making up most of the population, largely lack educational opportunities and often are under-educated. With the project in case, we have seen the incredible possibilities when young people use their own voice to advocate and participate in official decision-making processes, calling for change that benefit all young people. Through sustained youth-led advocacy efforts, youth organizations have achieved great results in terms of increased access to relevant Technical and Vocational Training (TVET) and the inclusion of TVET infrastructures in the national action plans and budgets.
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Empowering young people with disabilities in Ghana
The Youth Education and Gender Equality (YEG) project supported young people in Ghana to make their voices heard and empower them to take action towards creating conditions and opportunities for inclusion. The project has contributed to an increase in equity, gender equality and the inclusion of marginalized young people, especially young women, in formal and non-formal quality education and training. The goal was to achieve holistic inclusion of all young people, therefore, a special effort was put into integrating and empowering Ghana’s Young People with Disabilities (YPWD).