The IAWRT Board is recommending the funding of 13 short radio and television documentaries by women about women.
It hopes the primary focus this year from the "Strengthening the South" initiative will result in the production of five-minute radio and television documentaries about women securing their rights.
Assessments have been made to fund 11 applications to make 13 radio and TV documentaries, three solely radio, six film only and two for combined radio and television pieces.
The selection committee said there was "a good spread of projects across two mediums" and that "eleven applications from the first round was a very good outcome for this inaugural initiative".
Because the total funds required exceed IAWRT's allocation for the project, the association is seeking one-off mid-year funding from its principal sponsor, the Forum for Women and Development (FOKUS).
The IAWRT Board believes the 13 five-minute documentaries - when realised - will make a significant contribution to international debate on women's rights and provide a valuable resource for FOKUS and all its partners.
The following are the recommended applicants:
Arshiya Ahsan, from India working in Africa - a radio documentary about women in peacekeeping operations in Uganda.
Rebecca Okwaci, from Sudan working with the Kenya Chapter - a radio documentary on the women's movement in Sudan.
Tanseem Ahmar, from Pakistan - a Human Rights Advocacy Project radio documentary with a focus on the internally displaced women in the north-western frontier provinces of Pakistan.
Philippines Chapter - a combined radio and television documentary about local community peace initiatives in the conflict area of Mindanao, with a particular focus on the aspirations, skills and capabilities of Mindanao women and their struggle to secure their rights during the ongoing conflict.
Benaz Batrawi, from Palestine - a short film documenting the day-to-day life and struggle of a Palestinian woman living in a conflict zone.
Ananya Chakraborti from India - a short film about Mamata Banerjee of Bengal, born to working class parents in the slums of Kolkatta, and rising to spearhead a peasant movement, with her sights now set on becoming the first woman chief minister of West Bengal.
Nepal Chapter - a documentary film focusing on new domestic violence legislation and the fight by the women of Nepal to get it through parliament.
Alina Radu from Moldova - a short film "Where are the Women of Moldova?" asking where have the best minds of Moldova disappeared to and who is representing women in the political system.
Cameroon Chapter - a film primarily about the Bawock-Bali Nyonga conflict and its effect on the local women who were made homeless as a result and who have chosen to fight for their land rights.
Linda Daniels from South Africa - a film "Gone", the story of a mothers who started an NGO and is spearheading an awareness campaign around missing children.
Kenya Chapter - a radio and television feature of five minutes each on human rights with a bias to women's issues.
