True emancipation begins neither at the polls nor in courts. It begins in a woman's soul.
—anarchist Emma Goldman
9to5, National Association of Working Women — 9to5, National Association of Working Women is the largest membership organization of working women in the country. Founded in 1973 by a group of Boston clerical workers, 9to5 has grown from a simple newsletter to a grassroots force of nearly 15,000 women. We inspired the movie and the song “Nine to Five” and have helped working women win many victories over the years.
Advancing Women — Advancing Women's mission is to create a network for women to share career strategies and to provide employment opportunities and cutting edge resources that power women's success. Advancing Women was the first women's community and website to fuse the power of the 'Net as a communication, networking, and information tool, with the compelling agenda of women seeking the most effective means of advancing their career and business goals.
Alliance for Justice — The Alliance for Justice is a national association of environmental, civil rights, mental health, women's, children's, and consumer advocacy organizations. Since its inception in 1979, the Alliance has worked to advance the cause of justice for all Americans, strengthen the public interest community's ability to influence public policy, and foster the next generation of advocates.
American Civil Liberties Union — The American Civil Liberties Union is the nation's foremost advocate of individual rights—litigating, legislating, and educating the public on a broad array of issues affecting individual freedom in the United States.
American Federation of Labor/Congress of Industrial Organizations — The mission of the AFL-CIO is to improve the lives of working families—to bring economic justice to the workplace and social justice to our nation. To accomplish this mission we will build and change the American labor movement.
Amnesty International — Founded in 1961, Amnesty International is a grassroots activist organization whose one-million-strong members are dedicated to freeing prisoners of conscience; to gaining fair trials for political prisoners; to ending torture, political killings and “disappearances;” and to abolishing the death penalty throughout the world.
Amnesty International Women's Human Rights Program — The Women's Human Rights Program focuses on promoting women's human rights within Amnesty's mandate. It seeks to stop the particular violations of civil and political rights that women and girls experience.
Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) — Association of American Colleges and Universities is the institutional membership association focused on advancing the aims of liberal education. AAC&U is a national resource and leader for keeping learning at the center of the work of higher education institutions.
Center for Gender and Refugee Studies — The Center for Gender and Refugee Studies (CGRS) seeks to enhance the protection of women's human rights by providing expertise and resources in support of women asylum-seekers, at the levels of both practice and policy.
Center for Women's Global Leadership — The Center for Women's Global Leadership (Global Center) develops and facilitates women's leadership for women's human rights and social justice worldwide.
Emily's List: Pro-Choice Democratic Women Candidates — An acronym for “Early Money is Like Yeast” (it makes the dough rise), EMILY's List identifies viable pro-choice Democratic women candidates for key federal and statewide offices.
Equal Rights Amendment — On the verge of the millennium, after more than a generation of significant advances for women, do we still need the Equal Rights Amendment? The answer is an unqualified yes! Legal sex discrimination is not yet a thing of the past, and the progress of the past thirty years is not irreversible. Some remaining inequities result more from individual and social practices than from legal discrimination, but they can all be influenced by a strong message that the Constitution has zero tolerance for any form of sex discrimination. Thus, the reasons why we need the ERA are at one level philosophical and symbolic, and at another level very specific and practical.
Facing History and Ourselves National Foundation, Inc. — Facing History and Ourselves is a national educational and professional development organization whose mission is to engage students of diverse backgrounds in an examination of racism, prejudice, and anti-Semitism in order to promote the development of a more humane and informed citizenry.
General Federation of Women's Clubs — The General Federation of Women's Clubs is one of the world's largest and oldest women's volunteer organizations. Working locally in more than 6,500 clubs in the United States and globally in more than twenty countries, GFWC members support the arts, preserve natural resources, promote education, encourage healthy lifestyles, stress civic involvement, and work toward world peace and understanding.
Global Exchange — Global Exchange is a human rights organization dedicated to promoting environmental, political, and social justice around the world. Since our founding in 1988, we have been striving to increase global awareness among the U.S. public while building international partnerships around the world.
Grandmothers for Peace International — In most cultures around the world, grandmothers are revered as the “keepers of the peace.” We are inspired and motivated by that fact, but realize that in today's dangerous world we can no longer keep or promote peace by sitting in our rocking chairs! We remain an all-volunteer organization and prefer to maintain an informal structure that encourages others to start, with very little effort, chapters in their communities.
Human Rights Internet — Founded in 1976, Human Rights Internet (HRI) is a world leader in the exchange of information within the worldwide human rights community. Launched in the U.S., HRI has its headquarters in Ottawa, Canada. From Ottawa, HRI communicates by phone, fax, mail, and the information highway with more than 5,000 organizations and individuals around the world working for the advancement of human rights.
Human Rights Watch — Human Rights Watch is dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around the world. We stand with victims and activists to prevent discrimination, to uphold political freedom, to protect people from inhumane conduct in wartime, and to bring offenders to justice. We investigate and expose human rights violations and hold abusers accountable. We challenge governments and those who hold power to end abusive practices and respect international human rights law. We enlist the public and the international community to support the cause of human rights for all.
Idealist: A Project of Action without Borders — Action Without Borders is a global coalition of individuals and organizations working to build a world where all people can live free, dignified, and productive lives. Action Without Borders focuses on five goals from which everyone can benefit and to which anyone can contribute: promoting action and participation around the world; sharing ideas, experience and information; expanding the pool of resources available for good work; facilitating collaboration among individuals, organizations, schools, businesses and other institutions; and promoting the freedom to do all this.
Institute for Policy Study — This year the Institute for Policy Studies celebrates its thirty-seventh year as the only multi-issue progressive think tank in Washington, D.C. Through books, articles, films, conferences, and activist education, IPS offers resources for progressive social change locally, nationally, and globally. At a time when other think tanks celebrate the virtues of unrestrained greed, unlimited wealth, and unregulated markets, IPS is striving to create a more responsible society—one built around the values of justice, nonviolence, sustainability, and decency. IPS, as I.F. Stone once said, is an institute for the rest of us.
International Labor Rights Fund — The International Labor Rights Fund (ILRF), a nonprofit action and advocacy organization, uses new and creative means to encourage enforcement of international labor rights. International labor rights are human rights necessary for life and dignity that have been recognized by the United Nations, in its Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the International Labor Organization (a specialized agency of the United Nations).
IGC Internet — As a project of Tides, IGC shares the vision to actively promote change toward a healthy society, one which is founded on principals of social justice, broadly shared economic opportunity, a robust democratic process, and sustainable environmental practices. We believe healthy societies rely fundamentally on respect for individual rights, the vitality of communities, and a celebration of diversity.
InterAction: American Council for Voluntary International Action — A coalition of more than 150 nonprofit organizations working worldwide—and the U.S.'s leading advocate for humanitarian assistance to the world's poor.
International Women's Writing Guild — The International Women's Writing Guild , founded in 1976, is a network for the personal and professional empowerment of women through writing. As such, it has established a remarkable record of achievement in the publishing world, as well as in circles where lifelong learning and personal transformation are valued for their own sake.
Institute for Women in Trades, Technology and Science — IWITTS is dedicated to integrating women into nontraditional careers by providing training and technical assistance and publications to the educational system and employers.
MADRE — MADRE is an international women's human rights organization that works in partnership with women's community-based groups worldwide to address issues of health, economic development, and other human rights.
Myra Sadker Advocates — Myra Sadker Advocatesis a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting equity in and beyond schools. By working to eliminate gender bias, the advocacy enhances the academic, psychological, economic, and physical potential of America's children. The advocates support research, training and special programs for teachers, parents, children, and all those whose work and interest touch the lives of children.
National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League — NARAL believes that it is critical that those who value the freedom and independence we enjoy in this country work hard now to protect a woman's right to choose, for that basic American right is seriously at risk.
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence — The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) is dedicated to the empowerment of battered women and their children and to the elimination of personal and societal violence in the lives of women and their children.
National Council for Research on Women — The National Council for Research on Women, founded in 1981, is a working alliance of eighty-four women's research and policy centers, more than 3,000 affiliates, and a network of over 200 international centers. NCRW's mission is to enhance the connections among research, policy analysis, advocacy, and innovative programming on behalf of women and girls.
National Organization for Women — With over 500,000 contributing members, NOW is the largest feminist organization in the United States. Since NOW was founded in 1966, we have struggled to end the injustice and inequality women face daily.
OneWorld.Net — Like most of our readers, we are acutely aware of the injustices and unnecessary suffering in the world. Our aim is to bear witness to this injustice and to help people shed whatever light they can on it. Cruelty and injustice flourish most freely in the dark—or in the ambiguous twilight of “open secrets.” Bringing issues into the light, we believe, is a first step towards positive change.
Public Citizen — Founded by Ralph Nader in 1971, Public Citizen is the consumer's eyes and ears in Washington. With the support of more than 150,000 people like you, we fight for safer drugs and medical devices, cleaner and safer energy sources, a cleaner environment, fair trade, and a more open and democratic government. We stand up for you against thousands of special interest lobbyists in Washington—well-heeled agents for drug companies, the automakers, big energy interests, and the like. Our budget is small by comparison. But Public Citizen is respected and effective, precisely because we accept no government or corporate support. We speak only for you.
Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network — The Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN) is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., that operates a national toll-free hotline for victims of sexual assault. RAINN was founded by singer/songwriter Tori Amos (who is herself a rape survivor) and was funded with initial grants from the Atlantic Group and the Warner Music Group.
Safe Horizon — Domestic Violence Shelter Tour and Information Site
Sisterhood is Global Institute — Established in 1984, the Sisterhood is Global Institute (SIGI) seeks to deepen the understanding of women's rights at the local, national, regional, and global levels and to strengthen the capacity of women to exercise these rights. With members in seventy countries, SIGI currently maintains a network of over 1,300 individuals and organizations.
State PIRGs: Public Interest Research Groups — The state PIRGs are leading environmental and consumer watchdog organizations serving to preserve the environment, protect consumers, and promote democracy.
Taxpayers for Common Sense — Taxpayers for Common Sense is a nonpartisan advocate for American taxpayers. We are dedicated to cutting wasteful spending and subsidies in order to achieve a responsible and efficient government that lives within its means.
Third Wave Foundation — Third Wave is the only national organization created by and for young women. The goal of Third Wave is to harness the energy of young women and men like yourself by sharing information and resources between young women, together creating a community in which members can coalesce, network, strategize, and ultimately take action around issues that affect us all.
United Nations Development Fund for Women — UNIFEM promotes women's empowerment and gender equality. It works to ensure the participation of women in all levels of development planning and practice and acts as a catalyst within the UN system, supporting efforts that link the needs and concerns of women to all critical issues on the national, regional, and global agendas.
United States Commission on Civil Rights — The United States Commission on Civil Rights (USCCR) is an independent, bipartisan, fact-finding agency of the Executive Branch, first established under the Civil Rights Act of 1957.
United States Department of Justice — Mission Statement: To enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States according to the law; to ensure public safety against threats foreign and domestic; to provide federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime; to seek just punishment for those guilty of unlawful behavior; and to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans.
United States Department of Labor Women's Bureau — As authorized by public Law 66-259 in June 1920, the Women's Bureau is the single unit at the federal government level exclusively concerned with serving and promoting the interests of working women. Central to its mission is the responsibility to advocate and inform women directly, and the public as well, of women's work rights and employment issues.
United States State Department — Get in touch with Madeleine Albright, find out about her role as chair of the President's Interagency Council on Women, or just explore the archives of information.
Volunteer Match — VolunteerMatch strengthens communities by making it easier for good people and good causes to connect. The organization offers a variety of on-line services to support a community of nonprofit, volunteer, and business leaders committed to civic engagement. Our popular service welcomes millions of visitors a year and has become the preferred Internet recruiting tool for more than 62,000 nonprofit organizations.
Welcome to the White House — Welcome to the White House was developed to improve the way the federal government uses the Internet to communicate and interact with the American people. This site provides access to all the government information and services that are available on the Internet.
Women Watch — The UN Gateway on the Advancement and Empowerment of Women.
Women's Caucus for Gender Justice — The Caucus is a network of individuals and groups committed to strengthening advocacy on women's human rights and helping to develop greater capacity among women in the use of International Criminal Court, the Optional Protocol to CEDAW, and other mechanisms that provide women avenues of and access to different systems of justice.
Women's Environment and Developmental Organization — The Women's Environment and Development Organization (WEDO) is a global organization working to increase women's visibility, roles, and leadership in public policymaking through peace, gender, human rights, environmental and economic justice campaigns; through advocacy nationally, regionally, at the United Nations and in international financial institutions; and through local actions.
Women's Institute for Freedom of the Press (WIFP) — The Women's Institute for Freedom of the Press (WIFP) is a nonprofit, tax-exempt research, education, and publishing organization founded in 1972 to increase communication among women and reach the public with our experience, perspectives, and opinions. Women's contributions to society must be heard and be taken into account if democracy is to function and the world's political decisions are to be viable.
Women's International League for Peace — Founded in 1915 to protest the war then raging in Europe, the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom aims to bring together women of different political and philosophical conviction, united in their determination to study and make known and help abolish the political, social, economic, and psychological causes of war and to work for a constructive peace.