The launch of the Mongolian Women’s Empowerment Summit in 2023 by the Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW) marked a milestone in the organization’s goal to empower rural and nomadic women in Khovd Province, Mongolia. ACWW earned the 2023 Incredible Impacts Award for creating a space where local women could harness education, skill development and leadership initiatives.
Over 320 women attended the summit in August 2023. The summit provided support for 12 domestic violence survivors, helped to form 12 income-generating groups for 120 women in attendance, and facilitated a men’s group to encourage awareness and prevention of gender-based violence.
A year later, ACWW has shared an update on the grant’s contribution toward furthering its legacy program. One major development is ACWW and local partner Sain Tus Development Bridge NGO’s partnership with the UNESCO Local Indigenous Knowledge System team to advise the Mongolian government of feedback from nomadic herdswomen, the community represented at the Mongolian Women’s Empowerment Summit.
During the Mongolian Women’s Empowerment Summit, 12 victims of domestic violence approached Sain Tus Development Bridge NGO seeking support and advice. What was the outcome?
Immediately following the summit, 12 women survivors of domestic violence were provided with security, medical care, psychological support, social welfare, child protection, legal assistance and mediation services. Five who were assessed as high risk were placed in a protection shelter; in addition to security, they received psychological counseling and other social welfare services free of charge. Sain Tus also hired a human rights lawyer to provide advice and assistance in filing petitions to court and the police. Three survivors and their combined 18 children were relocated to safe, warm and fully furnished Ger Shelters, which are the national dwelling (similar to a yurt).
Sain Tus held several meetings of the joint protection team to discuss the safety of domestic abuse survivors into the future. The 12 women’s safety continues to be monitored.
During the summit, 120 women organised themselves into 12 groups to collectively increase their incomes. Where are these women now?
Sain Tus has involved the 120 women in growing vegetables, producing milk products and participating in vocational training to sew ‘national dress’. They have also received training for financial accounting, group organization and small business management, enabling them to strengthen their capacity and skills. Sain Tus tells us they are currently seeking financial support to buy greenhouses, equipment, and electric sewing machines.
Five men who attended the summit banded together to help reduce domestic violence against women. How did this progress?
Starting in June 2024, Sain Tus organized a ‘men’s leadership programme’ and involved these five men. Currently, they are organising advocacy activities and events among abusive husbands to change mentalities and address abusive men’s actions and bad habits. The programme will continue until December 2024.
You can see that the ‘incredible impacts’ of the Mongolian Women’s Empowerment Summit have been life-changing, not just for participants but also their communities and the next generation. The principles arising from the summit can also be used as an adaptable template in other communities and countries.
For more information about the Associated Country Women of the World, visit acww.org.uk.
Click here to read and download the case study on the Women’s Empowerment Summit by ACWW.
