DWA FANM is recognized as tax exempt under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Dwa Fanm's comprehensive programs have been developed in response to the urgent needs facing women and girls in the Haitian and broader black immigrant communities. We strive to improve the lives of women and girls by providing programs and services that have been designed to give them the tools they need to lead safe, healthy, and self-sufficient lives. To this end, Dwa Fanm maintains five core programs that address three broad issues: Violence Against Women; Poverty; and Human Rights.

ADDRESSING THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN

In every region of the world, women and children are subject to staggering rates of violence. The World Health Organization, for example, reported that up to 70% of female murder victims were killed by their male partners. And according to the United States Department of Justice, young women between the ages of 12 and 24 are at the greatest risk of rape and sexual assault. More than half of all rapes of women occur before the age of 18, and 22% occur before the age of 12.

Being comparatively "voiceless", women and children often do not have the social or political platforms to articulate and claim their rights. To ensure that victims' needs are met and that their voices are heard, Dwa Fanm implements the following two programs:

Kay Timoun ("Children's House")

Kay Timoun ("Children's House"), our Children's Services program, focuses on the human rights of children including restaveks (child slaves) and provides children with supportive services around school and home. The program also works to prevent child abuse and children's placement in foster care. Through Children's House, we also strive to achieve family reunification. To this end, we extensively collaborate with the New York City Administration for Children's Services (ACS) in immigrant communities.

Another component to Children's House is our school-based Girls' Empowerment program. At Dwa Fanm, we believe it is especially important for girls to develop a strong and positive self-identity, as they represent the next generation of women. Girls' Empowerment accomplishes this by educating girls about their rights, training them in physical and emotional self-defense and financial literacy, and engaging their parents in sexual abuse prevention.

"I can do anything I set my mind to." - Girls' Empowerment participant

Vwa Fanm ("Voices of Women")

Vwa Fanm ("Voices of Women"), our International Advocacy and Human Rights Program, responds to requests from the public for support and information about women's issues in the Haitian and black immigrant communities. The Program also organizes both grassroots and large-scale public education campaigns and events -- such as rallies, media and community forums, public hearings, news conferences, panel discussions, movie screenings and trainings. Through Vwa Fanm, we also conduct research and analyze legislation around issues faced by Haitian women and girls by hosting briefings and coalition meetings dealing with violence against women, reproductive health and rights, children's rights, and immigrant women's rights. Additionally, we train, empower, and organize volunteers to become community leaders in local and/or broader women's rights movements.