Standing for dignity and equality
Ending violence against women and girls. Ensuring women can participate in the decisions that affect them.
Karama is a network of civil society groups and activists in 13 countries in Africa and the Arab region. We provide an international platform for women to share skills and knowledge, and be part of a regional movement.
Our mission
Karama aims to end all kinds of violence against women in the Arab region. We mobilize women’s influence and participation across all sectors - political, legal and civil activism - to address women’s advancement, security, protection, and participation.
Working through partners in 13 countries in Africa and the Arab region, national and regional women networks, to scale communities’ understanding of women’s rights (advocacy) and influence decision makers for reforms, leveraging international human rights mechanisms.
Our approach
Our approach to change distinguishes us from other initiatives, as we work from the ground up, emphasizing local expertise and elevating this to inform national policies, regional dialogues, and international advocacy.
We take a broader view in the belief that to bring an end to violence against women and ensure women’s participation, it is necessary to understand the full context - economics, law, health, media, education, and art/culture, the things that matter most in people’s daily lives - and to design strategies that work through each of these areas.
Karama works for change in the wider Arab region by building coalitions that address the multi-sectoral causes and consequences of violence and inequality, enhancing activists’ capacity to advocate, lobby, and build awareness on women’s issues, priorities, and rights in the region.
Our priorities
Activists in the Karama network are engaged in work across Africa and the Middle East to dismantle legal framework that ingrain inequality, replacing them with modern laws that protect women and girls from violence. Karama supports our partners so they can be more effective in this work and achieve their goals.
Our latest news
Research and publications
Karama’s research and publications include reflections and analysis on the challenges facing women in Africa and the Arab region - from peace and discrimination under the law to climate change - as well as briefs and materials for advocacy. Have a look at some recent examples below.
Cover image: Palestinian News & Information Agency (Wafa) in contract with APAimages, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 DEED
UNGA79 - A Crisis of Confidence in the Multilateral System
The 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly takes place at a time when conflicts is escalating globally, while a genocide takes place in Gaza. To inform UNGA79 and the Summit of the Future, our report explores the crises facing the multilateral system.
Cover image: Palestinian News & Information Agency (Wafa) in contract with APAimages, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 DEED
Women bridging Peace, Security and Humanitarian Action
In order to achieve sustainable development, peace and security, and meet humanitarian needs, more emphasis is being put on the ‘nexus’ of these areas of work. This report explores the nexus of the women, peace & security agenda and humanitarian action, looking at complementarity, practical and conceptual barriers, and reflects on the crisis of confidence in the international system in light of the war in Gaza. Download it here
Understanding the Women, Peace and Security Agenda & CEDAW
A handbook civil society groups providing an overview of two key international frameworks for women and girls affected by conflict. Available in both Arabic and English, the handbook was updated in 2023 to cover all ten WPS resolutions, as well as developments like the Global Study and WPS-HA Compact. Download it here
Impact of Climate Change on Adolescent Girls
A collaboration between UNICEF, the Wa’ed network for adolescent girls, and Karama, this advocacy brief explores the impact of climate change on girls in the Arab region and Africa, and outlines actions that need to be taken. Download it here
Women, Peace & Security: Experiences and Lessons
Drawing on the experience and expertise of women peacebuilders, activists, academics, and those on the ground supporting women’s rights and peace, this document provides analysis of the practical experience of the women, peace and security agenda. Download it here
Shadow CEDAW Report for Yemen
A remarkable collaboration between over 60 Yemeni women’s groups, this shadow report was presented to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. More than 60 recommendations made in the shadow report were endorsed by the CEDAW Committee. Download it here
Meet some of the people who make Karama.
Sarah Awel James
Sarah is an activist for women’s rights who leads SWIGO in South Sudan. She works to elevate women’s issues, especially in the building of the new state. She led the mobilization of women in ten southern states to vote during the referendum by conducting civic and voter education. In addition, Sarah worked with a coalition of women to advocate for women’s rights in the drafting of the transitional constitution for South Sudan in the lead up to independence in July 2011. Sarah was heavily involved as a woman leader in the liberation struggle. She has been a member of many civil society initiatives, including the Jonglei Women Development Association and the Bor Community Woman group.
Azza Kamel
Azza is the founder of Appropriate Communication Techniques for Development, a training NGO for which she remains the director. Over the past sixteen years Azza has worked as a social development and gender consultant in implementing and evaluating social development projects, including women’s projects for various public, private and non-governmental organizations. Her collaborations and projects have served NGOs such as the International Planned Parenthood Federation and Save the Children USA. She has also worked with UNICEF, UNDP, and the Egyptian Swiss Development Fund. Dr. Kamel holds a Ph.D. in Civic Education and has published many studies in the area of sexual harassment, the impact of all forms of violence perpetrated against women, and the image of men and women in the media.
Amal Basha
Amal Basha is a human rights activist, who supported the 2011 Yemeni Revolution, reporting violations and crimes to the international human rights and media community from the square. She was elected a member of the Revolutionary Council in 2011 and later served as the official spokesperson for the twenty-five member National Dialogue Committee. Amal has worked for both national and international organizations, advocating to end impunity for crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide. In 1999, Amal co-founded Sisters Arab Forum for Human Rights (SAF), one of the leading human rights advocacy organizations in Yemen. She has received several awards including the Shield of the Person of the Year in 2008 from the Al-Sa’eed Foundation for Science and Culture in Yemen. SAF has continued its vital work in through the civil war, currently working to ensure women will be active participants post-conflict.