In a male-dominated society, it’s important that we create safe spaces for women and girls to protect them against gender-based violence and harassment. Because when girls are free to openly express themselves and feel secure, they’re most likely to feel empowered and stand up against inequalities.
This is why organizations that advocate for women empowerment are needed more than ever. Not only do they help amplify women’s voices, but society can also benefit from them. In other words, an empowered woman also empowers the entire community.
Here in the Philippines, there are organizations dedicated to promoting and advocating for women empowerment. Here’s a list of some non-profit and youth-driven organizations with a mission to create a safe space for women.
Girl Up Philippines
In 2010, the United Nations Foundation launched Girl Up, a campaign to help adolescent girls to raise awareness for girls residing in developing countries, especially the hardest-to-reach ones, namely Malawi, Ethiopia, Guatemala, and Liberia.
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Seven years later, a chapter of the UN Foundation’s campaign was founded in the Philippines: Girl Up Philippines. This organization aims to continue the same missions of empowering girls everywhere, providing them a platform, and creating a world where they are given equal opportunities and access. Through the years, they’ve partnered with UNHCR, UNICEF, UNFPA to pledge and help girls in Liberia and Uganda, among many others.
Amarela Philippines
Established in 2019, Amarela Philippines is a non-profit organization and youth-led initiative that advocates for women’s reproductive health, healthcare rights, and sexual education. Among their missions are to help improve the sexual and reproductive healthcare system in the Philippines, make sex education and healthcare accessible, promote women empowerment and gender inclusivity, and fight against gender-based violence.
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Pink Lips PH
Another youth-led non-profit organization in the Philippines is Pink Lips PH. Launched in 2020, Pink Lips PH promotes women empowerment through youth-driven activism. The organization’s mission is to create a safe and better Philippines for the less fortunate and vulnerable population by providing a platform to inspire involvement and ignite changes in the community.
Girls Got Game PH
Girls Got Game PH is an organization established by former female athletes which aims to empower young women through sports. They train girls to possess “an athlete’s mind” to help them rise above challenges, and they also provide mental and emotional training through sharing personal experiences by female role models.
Girls Got This
With sex trafficking being prevalent in the country, Girls Got This aims to create a safe space for women and girls. In a bid to prevent all forms of abuse on children, Girls Got This collaborates with local governments and communities to invest in girls’ education and protect them. Girls Got This also conducts activities that develop girls’ life skills where they are being taught by coaches and role models.
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