The East African Sub-regional Support Initiative for the
Advancement of Women (EASSI) owes its genesis to the women's
movement in Eastern Africa. It all started before Beijing.
In 1992, a process was initiated which culminated into
the hosting of the East African Women's conference hosted
by Uganda in 1993. The process that led to this meeting
had given birth to two women's advocacy and networking
Organisations namely; The Uganda Women's Network (UWONET)
and the Tanzania Gender Networking Programme (TGNP). Thereafter,
the processes that led to the 1995 Fourth World Conference
(FWCW) on Women in Beijing, formed a bigger block of the
Eastern African region to include Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia,
Rwanda and Burundi to the three East African countries
of Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. This was because it was
felt that the eight countries shared common concerns relating
to poverty and the marginalisation of women.
EASSI was formed in 1996 as a mechanism to facilitate
systematic follow up of the implementation of the platforms
for action emanating from the Fourth World Conference
on women held in Beijing China in 1995. The development
of the BPFA was preceded by the African Platfom for action
which was developed in Dakar, Senegal in 1994. EASSI is
a collaboration between individuals, NGOs, coalitions
and networks in the Eastern Africa sub region committed
to the advancement of women. EASSI covers eight countries
of: Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia,
Tanzania and Uganda. EASSI prioritized the 12 critical
areas of concern for women of the Beijing and African
(PFAs). The founding principle of EASSI was to stimulate
activism at national, regional and international levels
and to make concrete and meaningful change for the women
of the sub-region. It was expected EASSI would enhance
national and regional processes. This principle continues
to guide the direction of EASSI's networking, research,
advocacy and capacity building towards enhancing gender
equity and social justice. After ten years of operation,
EASSI has worked with three strategic plans with the most
current one running from 2005 to 2008.
EASSI Vision
EASSI envisions a society where all enjoy gender equality,
social justice, peace and development.
EASSI Mission Statement
To facilitate follow-up of the Dakar and Beijing Platforms
for Action in order to enhance the advancement of women
and social justice.
EASSI Goal
To catalyze national, regional and international processes
on critical areas of concern in order to make concrete
and meaningful changes for women.
EASSI Core Values
EASSI cherishes values of equality, justice, transformation,
unity in diversity, Collective Action, African Feminist
Perspective.
At operational level the values that EASSI strives to
live and work with include: Respect, Commitment, Quality
work, Teamwork, Integrity, and Time management.
EASSI Status
EASSI is an NGO in a consultative status with the economic
and social council of the united Nations(ECOSOC)
The Eastern African Sub-regional Support Initiative for the Advancement of Women (EASSI). Plot 87 Bukoto-Ntinda Road, P. O. Box 24965, Kampala, Uganda. Tel: +256-41-285163/285194. Fax:+256-41-285306. E-mail: eassi@eassi.org
