Women's Action for Social Development

W.A.S.D.: Women's Action for Social Development

Women's Action for Social Development (WASD) is a branch of RIDPA, created for women and run by women.

Millions of women throughout the world live in conditions of abject deprivation of, and attacks against, their fundamental human rights. Abuse against women is relentless, systematic, and widely tolerated - if not explicitly condoned.

• In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), tens of thousands of women have been raped, murdered, tortured, and buried alive during the war.
  
  
• Today, sexual violence against women is still widespread
  
  
• Violence and discrimination against women are global social epidemics
  
  
• In Rwanda, the DRC, and many other parts of Africa, genocide, rape, and HIV infections are condemning women to certain death.
  
  
• The majority of women living with HIV/AIDS are destitute.
  
  
• Women do two-thirds of the world's work, receive 10% of the world's income, and own 1% of the means of production.

WASD strives to advance the progress of the international women's rights movement by identifying, raising awareness about, and challenging impunity for women's rights violations. Through education, WASD works to empower women to take back their lives, their families, and their dignity.