The World YWCA’s advocacy agenda focuses on four priority areas: peace with justice, human rights, women’s health and HIV/AIDS, and sustainable development.
It harnesses the collective power of members in 122 countries towards a common global agenda, and it provides a platform for strengthening global awareness and solidarity on the critical issues affecting women worldwide. YWCA advocacy is also a powerful combination of grassroots development to improve the lives of women and girls, and international lobbying to ensure the protection and promotion of human rights and gender equality worldwide. To check out their website click here
Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda - World YWCA General Secretary
Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, from Zimbabwe, joined the World YWCA in 2007. She has over 10 years of experience with the United Nations, where she served as Regional Director for the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) in Eastern and Horn Africa covering 13 countries. She had previously worked as a human rights officer with UNICEF in Liberia and Zimbabwe. Gumbonzvanda also served as interim coordinator for the Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association during its formative stage and in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs in Zimbabwe as a law officer. For the last twenty year, Gumbonzvanda has been working on issues of women and children's human rights, with a special focus on crisis countries. Active in the women's movement, Gumbonzvanda has focused on issues of violence against women, peace with justice, property rights and HIV and AIDS. Gumbonzvanda is a trained human rights lawyer with extensive experience in conflict resolution and mediation.
Susan Brennan, World YWCA President
Susan began her life in the YWCA as a young woman leader on the board of her local association in Melbourne, Australia. During her time on her local board, the YWCA completed the renovation of its hotel, established and resourced a dedicated program for young women run by young women and witnessed a significant period of change in the culture, programmes and advocacy of her association.
