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Dear Friends, 
Fall Greetings from the Global Fund for Women!
This month, the world marks November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Throughout the world, violence against women takes many forms – from domestic violence to trafficking to lack of comprehensive health services. As I reflect upon the past year of meeting with women’s groups in Latin America and the Caribbean, I am reminded of another form of violence -- unfair economic models that undermine women’s safety, health and livelihood.
Women’s groups in the region discussed how over the last two decades, free trade liberalization policies have enabled governments to implement political and economic measures that increase the concentration of wealth in the hands of the few while producing even greater levels of poverty and violence against women. Throughout the region, women are demanding that their governments oppose free trade policies that increase income inequities and oppression for millions of women.
In February, the Global Fund for Women visited Nicaragua and Costa Rica. In Managua, we organized a regional gathering with 23 grantees and advisors who are working to advance women’s sexual and reproductive rights. Women in the meeting concluded that one of the major factors jeopardizing women’s health is their governments’ policies and budget allocations that prioritize the interests of foreign and national investors over the wellbeing of the majority of citizens.
In Costa Rica, we met with over 20 women’s groups from different regions of the country and witnessed first-hand how women were organizing themselves throughout the country in response to the proposed Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). Global Fund grantees like Women Against CAFTA expressed their dismay over the agreement’s potential to devastate the Costa Rica economy and the environment. In addition, they explained that extensive privatization of social services will result in the dismantling of a strong social welfare system and contribute to growing poverty and inequality, all of which hit women particularly hard.
While it’s disappointing that 51.7 percent of Costa Ricans voted in favor of their government's ratification of CAFTA, I am heartened by the extraordinary level of organization and mobilization by women’s groups, which contributed to a public debate that emphasized the effects of free trade on women, their families and their communities. The Global Fund is proud to support women’s groups in the region who are influencing national and international communities, strengthening advocacy efforts and promoting a gender lens to analyze how trade liberalization affects women’s lives.
In solidarity,
Erika Guevara Rosas
Program Officer for the Americas
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Gifts In Honor Of Loved Ones!
This holid ay season, the Global Fund for Women is fortunate to have a number of supporters who recognize and celebrate their friends, family and colleagues with a gift to the Global Fund. Recently, Diane Jordan Wexler, long-time supporter and former board member to the Global Fund, received the following accolades when a friend sent a gift in her honor: "Because Diane is a beautiful person; because of her devotion, dedication and sensitivity to women all over the world; because it was timely as she is going off the (Global Fund) board. Because she recently celebrated her 60th Birthday!” Read more about giving in honor and how you can do it too.
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 MUSADE
San Ramon, Costa Rica
Founded in 1986 in San Ramon, Alajuela, Costa Rica, MUSADE (Mujeres Unidas en Salud y Desarrollo—Women United in Health and Development) was formed by a group of women who wanted a space to address what they saw as the common problems facing women in their community, including machismo, violence and family health issues. Today, MUSADE provides shelter and support for women escaping situations of violence, but that is only one part of their work. They support small business programs, in addition to several activities. Learn more about MUSADE.
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Mobilizing women to resist militarization
Colombia and Ecuador
In light of the global commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Colombian women’s organizations and Global Fund grantees Ruta Pacifica de Mujeres and Organización Femenina Popular are convening a Transnational Mobilization of Women Against the War, which will be held at the Colombo-Ecuadorian border. Assisted by Global Fund support, the two groups will mobilize 3,000 women from Colombia and Ecuador on November 23th, 2007 to promote women’s full exercise of their political and civic rights.
Millions have been affected by Colombia’s civil war, with women continuing to suffer disproportionately. According to independent human rights reports, a woman dies in Colombia from “political” causes every two days. Despite repeated attacks, kidnappings and threats against women leaders, women's groups continue to develop agendas for peace. This feminist convening will bring much needed world attention to women’s peaceful resistance to the conflict.
Colombian Women’s Narratives for Peace
“We don’t want a war that is killing us, nor a peace that oppresses us.” Maria Teresa, of Ruta Pacifica. Maria Teresa is one of the 13 brave women activists who shares her story in the new report “I Will Never Be Silenced: Testimonies of Hope from Colombian Women,” published by the American Friends Service Committee and the Fellowship of Reconciliation. Order a copy of the report.
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GLOBAL FUND NEWS
 New Vice President of Development
The Global Fund for Women is pleased to announce that Jennifer Weber will be joining us as Vice President of Development this month. Jennifer comes to the Global Fund with over 12 years of experience in the non-profit sector. Jennifer’s experience with the Seattle philanthropic community and her personal knowledge of the Bay Area will be a major asset for the Global Fund. “I am deeply inspired by the work of the Global Fund for Women and have supported their work for years. It is a tremendous honor to be asked to serve this organization and women around the world in this way,” she says on her new role.
Learn more about Jennifer Weber
Grantmaking Highlights
We are pleased to announce that in our most recent grant cycle, the Global Fund for Women has awarded $2.6 million to184 women-led organizations in 76 countries. In line with our commitment to strengthening the work of existing grantees, 85 of the 184 grants are renewals. Read Highlights
Newly Revised Fundraising Handbook
Designed especially for first-time fundraisers, the Global Fund’s updated handbook presents some key ideas about raising money to fund women's rights work in today's global political and economic context. If you know or work with women's groups struggling for resources, please read, and pass on this manual. Download the Handbook
Vote For the Global Fund!
Are you a Working Assets customer? If you haven't voted already, then you can still help decide how Working Assets should distribute their annual donations. In 2005 your votes helped us secure an additional $70,000 for the global women's movement. Vote for the Global Fund by December 31st.
Shop Your Values This Holiday Season!
This holiday season we encourage you to buy gifts from organizations that will generously donate a portion of their sales' proceeds to the Global Fund. Buy Putumayo's World Music Women of the World: Acoustic, an exploration of contemporary acoustic music by some of the world's leading female artists.
Or for a gift of peace, we recommend Organic Bouquet's peace wreaths and roses. Here's a full list of our partners for mindful shopping.
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