The International Center for Research on Women (ICRW), based in Washington, DC, works to promote a world free of poverty, in which women and men, girls and boys have equal opportunities to achieve their potential and realize their rights.

“Women own less than 15 percent of the world’s land, despite making up more than half the world’s population”, according to ICRW.

Founded in 1976, ICRW concentrates on the world’s most pressing problems - poverty, hunger and disease -  and focuses on how lasting social and economic change must target women and gender issues. ICRW works in 40 countries in Asia, Africa, and South and Central America.

A school program launched in India in 2008 teaches 10-16 year old boys about gender equality issues will reach 42,000 students in a 3-year program. Instances of violence against women came down by as much as 40% in those areas where ICRW conducted the school programs in partnership with local organizations.

The program will also reach 1,200 teachers. Young men and women study issues such as education for women, dowry, gender equality and empowerment … and group sessions are used to write scripts, conduct street plays, and make posters to support the program’s ideas.

ICRW’s work’s in 3 general areas:

1. Research - 30 years experience in gathering data on women’s issues.
2. Technical Support - Finding practical ways that other organizations can use to improve the delivery and quality of services women and girls … including financial, agricultural, health, nutrition and reproductive health services.
3. Advocacy - Reaching out to inform experts, leaders and policy-makers on gender-equitable policies and programs.

Some of the specific areas of work to ICRW are:
* Economically empower women.
* Prevent HIV and AIDS among women and girls.
* Eliminate violence against women.
* Create better life options for adolescent girls.
* Combat child marriage.
* Reduce malnutrition and hunger.

ICRW’s partners include UNAIDS, World Bank, World Health Organization, Population Council, CARE, Academy for Educational Development, Princeton University, University of California at San Francisco, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (India), Tanzania Food and Nutrition Center, Institute for Social Development Studies (Vietnam), Mahidol University (Thailand) and others.

Information on how to donate or other program details can be found on their website.