| |
SOLWODI was founded in 1985 in Kenya by Dr. Lea Ackermann, a German Missionary Sister of Our Lady of Africa. Realising in what conditions the prostituted women in Mombasa lived, she decided to organise with them and through the help of many supporters a program of reintegration. Through this, the stranded women, often with their children, could leave the streets, learn a job and hope for a better future. After coming back to Germany, Sr. Lea was convinced that the problem of prostitution and sex tourism had its roots in the western world. Moreover, she saw the need both to support and protect migrant women who had been trafficked to Germany and to educate the public opinion about this form of injustice and violation of human rights. Thus, in 1987 she founded SOLWODI in Germany, as a non-profit, non-party and non denominational charity organisation for migrant women victim of trafficking, of forced marriage or domestic violence, as well as for asylum seeking migrant women who were stranded in Germany and who because of gender inequality and social injustice had fled their countries of origin. Since then SOLWODI has spread throughout Germany with twelve centers, which offer psycho-social counselling, legal advice, safe accommodation, and support to return home, as well as networking with NGOs in Germany and in the home countries to assure a proper follow-up. The main aims of SOLWODI, both in Kenya and in Germany, remain the support of migrant women as well as the work of advocacy and lobby for a more gender and human right sensitive law enforcement. |
