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Strengthening women's rights
Traditional, often patriarchal values frequently influence the attitudes and views of women and men and their relationship to one another. These values are reflected in laws that disrespect women's rights and entitlements - especially when it comes to the issues of marriage, divorce, rape, violence and inheritance. Reform of such laws is thus one of the areas of activity of development cooperation.
Surveys show that many women are even denied a right to a say in the most basic decisions – for example as regards health issues. Many women, particularly in countries in sub-Saharan Africa and in South Asia, are not able to decide for themselves when to have what treatment.
One priority area of German development cooperation supports women in getting to know their rights and learning to exercise them, as well as their political participation. To that end women's initiatives in many countries are given grants to support their educational and lobby work.
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