The Eastern African Sub-regional Support Initiative for the Advancement of Women (EASSI) is a Sub-regional Civil Society organization made up of committed individuals, NGOs, coalitions and networks driven to transform gender relations globally and especially in the Eastern Africa sub-region. The main international agreement that frames our work is the Beijing Platforms for Action (BPFA) resulting from the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995. The spirit of this agreement reaffirms the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), and the Women’s Bill of Rights. The BPFA has been in turn affirmed by the Millennium Declaration and the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for 2015, combating poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy and gender inequality, , and building partnerships for development.

Our Vision

We envision a society where all enjoy gender equality, social justice, peace and development

Our Mission

Our mission is to facilitate follow-up of the Beijing and African Platforms for Action in order to enhance the advancement of women and social justice.

Our Objectives

·         To Monitor progress in the implementation of the PFAs in the sub-region as a means to holding governments accountable to fulfilling commitments made in Beijing

·         To advocate for effective sub-regional mechanisms for the advancement of women’s rights and gender equality

·         To promote effective public resource mobilization, allocation, and utilization for reproductive health and sexual rights services and gender sensitive budgeting.

·         To increase the participation of women in challenging systemic causes of conflict and providing alternative paradigms to peace building and conflict resolution.

Our Goals

In our work we aim for a society where;

·         Women enjoy equal political, civil, economic, social right including sexual and reproductive rights with men;

·         Women have access to power and there is equal participation of women and men in decision-making;

·         Governments are accountable and promote, protect and respect human rights for all.

Our Unique Identity

Our unique identity lies in:

·         Our sub-regional membership and networking ;

·         Monitoring the implementation of the African and Beijing Platforms for Action within Eastern Africa sub-region;

·         Our African feminist orientation and perspectives

·         Being better positioned to speak on the progress being made in promoting gender equality within Eastern Africa using the framework of the Platforms for Action;

·         Our diverse membership of individuals and organizations with varying experiences and competencies

Our Values

·         Fairness, Equity and Justice – ensuring that everyone, regardless of sex, sexuality, age, race, color, class and religion, has equal opportunity for expression and for utilizing their potential

·         Integrity; Honesty, Transparency and Accountability – we believe in being accountable for the effectiveness of our actions and open in our judgment and communications with others

·         Respect for the rights of women: we believe in deliberately strengthening the capacity of national and regional initiatives in order to enhance the advancement of women to meet their basic rights and to improve their position in society

·         Collective action: we believe in working together as a movement and without fear of failure, in pursuit of the possible impact on the causes of gender inequality and social injustices