Welcome A&O Shearman Staff
Women for Women International is A&O Shearman's Global Charity Partner 2023 - 2025. Together we are creating a ripple effect of change, transforming the lives of women survivors of war and their communities for generations to come.
Learn About Our Work
Women for Women International helps women survivors of war rebuild their lives
553,437 women survivors of war reached in 17 conflict-affected countries since 1993
1 in 5 refugee or internally displaced women have faced sexual violence
199% increase in household saving after graduation from our programme
Data collected from programme participants in 2022.
Our Partnership
Your support is having a transformative impact on the lives of women survivors of war
There are currently 26 live conflicts in the world, spanning five continents (source: Global Conflict Tracker). In conflict-affected communities, women are the most impacted – having to contend with rights violations, gender-based violence, lack of essential health services and suitable economic opportunities.
Women for Women International and A&O Shearman are partnering between September 2023 and August 2025 to help women survivors of war to rebuild their lives and create lasting change in their communities.
Together, we aim to raise in excess of £1 million, of which £525,000 will be invested in supporting displaced women in Iraq and responding to critical conflict situations globally. Any additional funds raised will contribute to Women for Women International's mission to reach 1 million women by 2030 and scale their impact as a policy and advocacy catalyst for change.
Throughout this partnership, we will:
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Support women survivors of war and forcibly displaced women through social and economic empowerment training, with 250 women being enrolled in our Stronger Women, Stronger Nations programme in Iraq.
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Increase women’s access to justice and decision-making at all levels to create change in their communities.
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Meet the urgent needs of women survivors in emerging conflict zones around the world through Women for Women International’s Conflict Response Fund.
By raising awareness and fundraising for Women for Women International, you and everyone at A&O Shearman can play a pivotal part in ensuring every woman has the power to transform her own life.
Our Programmes
Your partnership is having a direct impact on the lives of hundreds of women survivors of war
Our programmes are holistic, equipping women with knowledge, skills and resources to rebuild their lives – while regaining hope. We engage men, decision-makers and whole communities to champion women’s active participation in public life – because our 30 years of experience have shown that when women use their power, they create a ripple effect of change for generations to come.
2025 Partnership Update
2025 marks the final year of our partnership with A&O Shearman.
So far, we have raised over £700,000 and as a result, we have enrolled 300 women, including Maram, in our Stronger Women Stronger Nations program in Iraq. As well as the program in Iraq and the Conflict Response Fund, the partnership also provides flexible funding to support Women for Women International’s mission to reach 1 million women by 2030. Our global policy and advocacy team is also working closely with A&O Shearman on a number of strategic pro bono projects.
We recently conducted our third program visit, this time to Sarajevo, where Women for Women International was started in 1993. The visit provided an opportunity for the group from A&O Shearman to learn about the work of our sister organisation, Žene za Žene International, across Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as our Conflict Response Fund (which A&O Shearman is supporting with £100,000 of restricted funding).
2024 Highlights
We have engaged with colleagues in over 28 offices across the world and have built an ever-growing global network of Ambassadors who are championing our partnership and leading on awareness-raising and fundraising.
Some highlights from 2024 include A&O Shearman’s first global virtual challenge event ‘Steps for Sisterhood’, which saw colleagues from all over the world virtually travel almost 20,000 miles and raise over £22,000 for Women for Women International.
If you would like to get more involved in our work and partnership, join the internal Women for Women International Ambassador network by emailing Lucy Willis (lwillis@womenforwomen.org) to sign up.
#SheInspiresMe
The women in our programmes have suffered immense hardship, but their strength is inspirational. By giving your support, taking action, and lending your voice you help to create a chain of inspiration. Together we will use the power of our collective voice to support women in war-torn countries.
Please note this video contains references to sexual violence which may be distressing.
Conflict Response Fund
Your partnership is helping us reach more survivors of war
In 2018, we launched our Conflict Response Fund in order to act quickly and invest in women in emerging conflict zones around the world. Through a non-partisan approach and responsive grants, we are able to track crises in real time, identify credible partners on the ground and allocate resources to meet the urgent needs of women survivors, no matter what side of the conflict they are on.
Inspiring stories from women we serve
Saleha
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"This is the first time I have the confidence to share my story as I didn’t have the confidence to do that before joining Women for Women International social empowerment classes."
Sameera, Iraq
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"I saw its value and how women in the programme were able to grow out of the depression they’d been living in. Interacting with other women made my life easier and helped me find calm. I realised I am not the only one dealing with difficulties."
Mona's Story
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"I was hesitant but made the decision to enrol in the Stronger Women, Stronger Nations programme. It was the best decision I ever made."
When we started Women for Women International, we couldn’t have predicted just how many women would be affected by conflict 30 years later. We thought that Bosnia would be the last time.
Learn more
Why women in conflict
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When war and insecurity take hold, women bear the heaviest burden of violence, poverty and inequality. Learn more about why supporting women survivors of war is so important.
Our Story
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Since our origins during the Bosnian War in 1993, Women for Women International has reached 579,287 marginalised women in 17 conflict-affected countries.
Where we work
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Learn more about the conflict-affected countries where we work around the world. Since our origins in Bosnia and Herzegovina, we have expanded and adapted our programmes to support 579,287 women living in some of the world’s most challenging environments.