International Alliance of Women

Description

The International Alliance of Women is a global NGO that works to advance women’s human rights, equality and empowerment.

It was formally constituted in Berlin in 1904, growing out of a meeting of suffragists from eleven countries in Washington in 1902, and took its present name in 1946. Its members are mainly national women’s rights organizations, with individual membership also possible, drawn from Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania. Today the Alliance represents 44 member organizations worldwide.

IAW has held general consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council since 1947, one of a small number of NGOs with that status. It is accredited to several UN agencies, holds participatory status with the Council of Europe, and has monitoring status at the Arab League and the African Union. Its work covers issues such as political and legal equality, education, sexual and reproductive health, and violence against women and girls.

The organization is based in Geneva, Switzerland.