Give a gift this holiday season that helps realize your dream:

A world without violence against women and girls

Honor a loved one this holiday season with a contribution to MADRE's programs to combat violence against women: with women who are fighting rape in Haiti and Darfur, "honor killing" in Iraq, forced military recruitment of young people in Colombia, and all forms of violence against women around the world. MADRE will send the beautiful gift card (at right) with a description of the inspiring and empowering programs your gift makes possible. We'll send the card directly to your gift recipient or to you, so you can give your gift in person.

Take part in the holiday season with a gift that means something to you both—and to women everywhere. It's a thoughtful alternative to commercial holiday giving and a wonderful way to show you care.

Be Part of MADRE's Work with Women around the World to Combat Violence...

In Haiti...

In Haiti, where incidents of rape and other human rights violations have escalated sharply in recent years, MADRE and the women of KOFAVIV are meeting rape survivors' immediate needs—and helping them bring perpetrators to justice.

KOFAVIV provides high-quality, free medical care and counseling for rape survivors, including testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), prenatal care for women who become pregnant as a result of rape, and medical certificates for survivors, which are important for prosecuting perpetrators in court. MADRE is supporting KOFAVIV's solidarity groups, which provide informal social and psychological support for rape survivors and encourage members to undertake collective action to fight gender-based violence. In addition to providing direct support to rape survivors, KOFAVIV documents human rights abuses. This documentation is necessary for use in survivors' lawsuits and for advocacy at the national and international level to combat violations of women's human rights.

In Colombia...

Colombia is the among worst violators of human rights yet the leading recipient of US military aid in our hemisphere. The decades-long civil war has displaced millions of people, the vast majority of whom are women and their families. Over 11,000 children have been recruited by armed forces in Colombia and at least 25 percent of combatants are under the age of eighteen.

MADRE and Taller de Vida are providing critical services for displaced Afro-Colombian and Indigenous women and youth in Bogotá. At Taller de Vida, children take classes in acting, painting, music, pottery, videography, photography, and dance. These programs offer young people who have been displaced by war a positive environment that develops their creativity and helps them heal their trauma. Taller de Vida's counselors help children and families cope with the psychosocial effects of displacement.

In Iraq...

There's no question that Iraq has become increasingly violent in recent months, with bombings occurring nearly every day. But for the women of Iraq, violence doesn't always come from a helicopter, tank, or bomb. In every war zone, women face an increase in rape and sexual violence, and Iraq is no exception. Domestic violence, rape, forced marriage, and "honor killings" have all increased since the US invasion.

Help MADRE and the Organization of Women's Freedom in Iraq (OWFI) support women working to end violence. The women who run OWFI have risked their lives to open five women's shelters since 2004 (in Baghdad, Kirkuk, Nasariyeh, and Erbil), and created the Underground Railroad for Iraqi Women, a network that enables women to escape "honor killings". For the women who knock on the shelters' doors in the middle of the night, these refuges are the difference between life and death.

Order a gift membership now.