STORIES OF CHANGE

Training Women to Know Their Rights at Work: India's Domestic Workers

Women domestic workers in India often face discrimination, exploitation and sexual harassment at work. Many work in informal settings with limited protections, making it difficult to report abuse or access support.

With support from the UNTF, the Martha Farrell Foundation is helping change this reality across 13 districts in the Delhi region. The initiative empowers women domestic workers to understand their rights, speak out against violence, and access safer, more responsive support systems.

“I was forced to ignore sexual harassment in my workplace, because I needed to continue working and earning.” - Aisha*, domestic worker in Gautampuri, Delhi

Impact of UN Trust Fund Support

Since 2021, the project has delivered significant results:

More than 53,000 women domestic workers reached through awareness, training and community engagement activities
Over 2,700 women trained on their rights under India's Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act, increasing confidence to report violence and seek support
60 domestic worker leaders, known as Pehelkaars, trained to champion workplace safety in their communities
Community leaders have subsequently reached an additional 500 women workers through outreach and education activities

Women Leading Change

The project goes beyond awareness raising by supporting women to become advocates for safer workplaces.

Ahead of the 2022 Delhi Municipal Elections, trained domestic workers led a campaign on workplace safety that engaged 25,000 fellow workers.

They also helped lead a landmark consultation involving more than 80,000 informal women workers, bringing together government representatives, unions, civil society organisations and the media to discuss protections against workplace harassment and strengthen implementation of existing laws.

Why It Matters

The support of the UNTF is helping women domestic workers move from vulnerability to leadership. By increasing awareness of rights, strengthening community networks and improving institutional accountability, the project is creating lasting change and helping build workplaces where women can work free from violence and harassment.

Giving a Voice to Gender-based Violence Survivors in Palestine

Women and girls in Palestine face heightened risks of gender-based violence due to the ongoing impacts of conflict, displacement, economic insecurity and limited access to support services. Nearly 1.9 million people require gender-based violence prevention and response services, with the majority living in Gaza. Many survivors also face barriers to reporting violence or accessing justice.

Recognising these challenges, UN Women has partnered with local women-led and women's rights organisations to ensure survivors can access support from trusted organisations deeply embedded within their communities.

Why Local Women's Organisations Matter

For many survivors, stigma, fear and a lack of awareness about reporting pathways can prevent them from seeking help. Local women's organisations play a vital role by:

Providing safe and trusted spaces for survivors.
Delivering gender-responsive services tailored to community needs.
Challenging harmful social norms that perpetuate violence against women and girls.
Connecting women and girls with legal, psychosocial and protection services.

Their trusted community relationships make them uniquely positioned to reach survivors who may be reluctant to engage with external service providers.

Impact of Funding for Women's Organisations

With support through the UN humanitarian response system, UN Women and four local women's organisations in the West Bank and Gaza have strengthened protection, support and economic opportunities for women and girls affected by crisis.

Since 2021, the initiative has achieved significant impact:

17,099 survivors of violence and women at risk have accessed gender-based violence services and support.
772 vulnerable women have received livelihood assistance, including cash transfers and economic empowerment opportunities.
Women and girls have gained access to health, legal and psychosocial services, helping them recover and rebuild their lives.
Local women's organisations have been strengthened as key actors in humanitarian response and decision-making.

Photo: UN Women. Interview of a refugee woman with disability from the Gaza Strip who received cash assistance and a cash-for-work opportunity through the CERF programme. The livelihood assistance was paired with skill development trainings and gender-based violence (GBV) protection services, including legal counselling and psychosocial support.

Creating Long-Term Change

Beyond delivering essential services, the initiative is helping increase the leadership and influence of local women's organisations within the humanitarian system. By ensuring women's voices are represented in decision-making spaces, these organisations are helping create more effective, gender-responsive responses to crisis and violence.

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