Surviving and Thriving: Women's Voices

1 in 3 women will be raped or abused in her lifetime. Together we can ensure a safer future for women and girls around the world. Watch our short video on the power of women now - click the image above >

Every day around the world, women are fighting to survive violence, inequality, poverty and disease.

When war and disaster stack the odds against them, women find the strength not just to struggle on, but to succeed. Nothing is more vital than what they are fighting for: their families and their own fiercely held dignity.

During March, International Women's Month, we honour women and celebrate their victories. And women are winning, amid the worst crises, where the IRC gives them the tools they need to heal, to support themselves, and to bravely and boldly re-imagine their futures and rebuild their communities.

Help us Make it a Fair Fight

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Latest news and stories

My painful rite of passage

26 July 2010

By Amie Kandeh Amie Kandeh is the coordinator of an International Rescue Committee programme in Sierra Leone that informs communities about the consequences of forced female genital mutilation and runs three health centres where survivors of rape and other forms of sexual... More >

Caught in the Crossfire: Photos from Congo

30 April 2010


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A safe haven for abused refugee women in Thailand

11 March 2010

By Peter Biro On her sixteenth birthday, Ngelay* was told by her mother that she had arranged for her to be married. The prospective groom, a much older man living in Malaysia, had already sent 50 grams of gold to Ngelay's mother as a down-payment. The remaining amount was to be paid when the... More >

How we help

The International Rescue Committee helps refugees and other vulnerable women survive and succeed. We:

  • Provide lifesaving healthcare and humanitarian relief
  • Counsel and care for survivors of sexual violence
  • Educate men, women and children in ways to prevent sexual violence
  • Take action when women's rights are violated or endangered
  • Give women skills and opportunities to support their families and lead their communities