AIDOS is a non-profit making, non-government organisation created in Rome in 1981 by a group of women of differing political opinions to affirm the rights, dignity and freedom of choice of women in the various developing countries. It is recognised as an appropriate organisation by the Foreign Ministry regarding developing country operations; has special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the UN (ECOSOC) and is the focal point in Italy for the United Nations Population Fund.

Mission

Empowerment, that is sustaining women and their organisations so as to gain more strength and authority, is the basic aim of all AIDOS initiatives carried out together with local partners, privileging those sectors in which the contribution of Italian women’s experience and efforts is more significant. The organisation’s philosophy has been developed through constant dialogue with female organisations all over the world, with international bodies as well as other non-government organisations. There is continuous research and training in the field.

Operating areas

• health and sexual/child bearing rights, realising health centres for women as well as supporting projects aimed at the elimination of gender violence and the elimination of female genital mutilation in Africa;
• women’s participation in economic development, by means of creation of service centres for female entrepreneurship and information points regarding such possible efforts;
• capacity building for women’s institutions and organisations, activating documentation, information and press centres; completing training courses on gender themes applied to operating sectors;
• education of young people as well as prevention of under age work using funds for study.
• AIDOS translates into Italian and presents annual reports for the UNFPA on the state of the world population; has a Documentation Centre about women and development, publishing a three-monthly magazine: AidosNews.

Collaborations