ARLINGTON, Va., March 7, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — For this International Women’s Day, Counterpart International is offering an online multimedia package highlighting compelling success stories in some of the most challenging places on Earth for women.

The global nonprofit organization is posting program-related videos, articles and relevant facts that touch on the issues that are most important to women and the changes taking place in some of the 22 countries in which Counterpart operates.

“Women of all ages are playing important roles in improving their communities,” says Joan Parker, President and CEO of Counterpart. “By including all members of a community, especially women, we have far greater chances for long-term viability of everyone’s efforts.”

Parker says Counterpart emphasizes the role of women in its development programs, including:

• Afghanistan: Of the nearly 300 civil society organizations working with Counterpart’s Initiative to Promote Afghan Civil Society, about half are either led by women or are directly involved in promoting an agenda and services that benefit women. https://www.counterpart.org/news/publications-websites/afghanistan-special-report
• Yemen: Counterpart’s Responsive Governance Project is working with civil society and the government to create policies that will ensure safe motherhood, as well as running seminars that improve the skills of midwives. Yemen has one of the world’s highest maternal mortality rates. https://www.counterpart.org/news/maternal-health-in-yemen
• Senegal: Counterpart’s community-based health program has ensured a healthier future for pregnant and lactating women through improved nutrition. https://www.counterpart.org/news/publications-websites/senegal-providing-healthcare-to-mothers-and-children
• Honduras: Counterpart’s initiative to engage communities to improve citizen safety and security places an emphasis on women.
• Azerbaijan: Counterpart has just issued grants to 14 community-based organizations to raise awareness of women’s issues, organize advocacy campaigns to eliminate discrimination and to promote women’s role in the decision-making process.

“While we celebrate these advances, we realize that women continue to face tremendous challenges,” Parker says. “That’s why each program integrates gender strategy to ensure that women access the long-term improvements our programs offer, and play leadership roles in the process.”

Parker says her organization uses the same good practices it promotes for women around the world within the organization as well, noting that women account for 62 percent of the U.S.-based staff and half of Counterpart’s Board of Directors.

Counterpart International helps people build better lives and more durable futures, community by community. For 50 years, Counterpart has been an innovator, changing the way people look at, and solve, global development challenges. Today, we are working with more than 3,500 local organizations, and more than 150,000 leaders — including women and youth — in 24 countries around the world. Learn more atcounterpart17.wpengine.com.