FORWARD

Dignity and change for African women and girls

FORWARD (Foundation of Women's Health Research and Development) is the African women-led women's rights organisation working to end violence against women and girls.

About us

Highlights

Naana, Executive Director Wins National Honour in Top 50 Professional and Career Women Awards UK

As we mark FORWARD’s 40th anniversary we are thrilled to celebrate a truly special milestone as our Executive Director, Naana Otoo-Oyortey MBE, has been recognised as a UK Award Winner in the Top 50 Professional and Career Women of the Year Awards by Women in Management!🌟 Naana has been honoured as the EDI Advocate of the Year, recognising her exceptional leadership and tireless advocacy for gender justice, equality, and women’s rights.

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New Research: Barriers to Accessing Cervical Cancer Screening

This report examines some of the multifaceted barriers and fears that deter women from African, black and minoritised survivors of FGM and sexual violence from accessing cancer screening tests in London.

Read the full report

FORWARD is an Action For Women's Health Awardee

FORWARD is excited to have been selected as the only UK based awardee of Action for Women’s Health, a $250 million global fund awarded to 80+ organisations around the world.

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Latest Updates

16 Days of Activism

UNiTE to End Digital Violence

FORWARD and our Young Women’s Advisory Council are launching an Awareness Campaign during the 16 Days of Activism (25 Nov–10 Dec) to expose digital abuse from online grooming and cyberstalking to image-based abuse and harmful online myths.

Fundraising

We’re hiring! Fundraising Manager Vacancy

As our Fundraising Manager, you’ll lead multi-stream fundraising, build partnerships, and strengthen our income to support lasting change for African women and girls.

Our Impact

44,580

Students taught about their body and rights in UK schools since 2015.

11,570

Professionals trained on how to safeguard women and girls affected or at risk of FGM, since 2015

24,393

School girls and boys mobilised in Africa to know their rights and fight violence against women and girls in their schools and their communities.

Publications

Event Video

FORWARD at 40: Seeds of Change Celebration- Highlights Video

New Research

Barriers to Accessing Cervical Cancer Screening: Voices from women survivors of female genital mutilation (FGM)

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Seeds of Change: 40 Years of FORWARD

To mark our 40th anniversary, join us in honouring our journey, celebrating our growth, and recognising the incredible changemakers who have stood with us.

Help Fund Our Work

Support our vision of the day when African girls and women will live in dignity, are healthy, have choices and enjoy equal rights, free from fear of violence.

Donate

Be part of forward

Be part of our global network working towards ending FGM, child marriage and violence against women and girls, by joining our newsletter