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Non-profit

Women’s Link Worldwide (WLW)

Website:

www.womenslinkworldwide.org/en
Location:

New York, NY
Tax ID:

03-0371141
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2021):

Revenue: $4,013,798
Expenses: $2,733,691
Assets: $4,045,592
Type:

Advocacy Organization
Formation:

2001
Executive Director:

Jovana Rios Cisnero
Budget (2022):

Revenue: $1,907,692
Expenses: $2,650,263
Assets: $3,130,266 1

References

  1. Return of an Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Women’s Link Worldwide. 2022.

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Women’s Link Worldwide (WLW) is a left-of-center organization that advocates on women’s issues, including access to abortion, prevention of harm to migrant women, opposition to sex trafficking, and immigration. The organization operates internationally, with offices in Colombia, Spain, and the United States. 1

Background

Women’s Link Worldwide was founded in 2001 by Viviana Waisman. 2 Prior to creating the organization, Waisman was a consultant for the United Nations Population Fund in New York and attorney for the pro-abortion Center for Reproductive Rights. 3 Waisman is also a professor of law and visiting scholar at the American University – Washington College of Law Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law. 4

Finances

In 2022, Women’s Link Worldwide received $1,894,573 in contributions of its $1,907,692 in total revenue, spent $2,650,263, and held $3,130,266 in net assets. 5

In 2023, WLW announced that MacKenzie Scott, ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, provided a “transformative” donation to the organization. 6 WLW’s website does not list the amount, and MacKenzie Scott’s website Yield Giving, which provides a generally transparent financial records of her contributions, lists that the disclosure of the amount is “delayed for [the] benefit of recipient.” 7

Activism

Abortion

Women’s Link Worldwide advocated for access to abortion, including elective abortions, throughout South America, including in Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico. 8

WLW also lobbied the United Nations to include pro-abortion interpretations of human rights law. 9 In 2015, WLW submitted a “contribution to discussion” on proposed revisions to comments interpreting Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) which states that: “Every human being has the inherent right to life. This right shall be protected by law.” 10 WLW’s contribution to discussion argued that Article 6 of the ICCPR should not be interpreted to advocate for pro-natalist positions vis-à-vis abortion. 11

Human Trafficking

Women’s Link Worldwide lobbied the United Nations to advocate for international laws that deter human trafficking, deter violence towards women, and weaken sovereign criminal and immigration laws. 12 WLW states that reforms to prevent human trafficking must be drawn from an international human rights framework that prioritizes the safety of trafficked human beings. 13 WLW concludes that national immigration and criminal law frameworks must cede to human rights law and prioritize the safety of trafficked individuals over the enforcement of national laws. 14

In 2020, WLW and the Centre for Women, Peace and Security at the London School of Economics and Political Science submitted recommendations to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to revise the formal guidance provided by the UN on how states can align their laws with international human rights law. 15

WLW’s argued for weakening immigration and asylum laws, and purported that many states enable violence towards women by “leaving trafficking victims vulnerable to traffickers through restrictive immigration laws or by closing safe and legal migration routes.” 16

Leadership

Jovana Rios Cisnero is the executive director of Women’s Link Worldwide. 17 Prior to joining WLW, Rios Cisnero was the regional advocacy and campaigns manager for Save the Children International. 18

Cisnero has held appointments from the United Nations Secretary General, including appointment to the high level steering group of the United Nations – Every Woman, Every Child initiative as well as the initiative’s Independent Accountability Panel. 19

References

  1. “Contact Us.” Woman’s Link Worldwide. https://www.womenslinkworldwide.org/en/womens-link/contact-with-us
  2. “Viviana Waisman.” Elluminate. https://elluminatewomen.org/initiatives/collective/cohort-two/viviana-waisman/
  3. “Viviana Waisman” American University – Washington College of Law. https://www.wcl.american.edu/impact/initiatives-programs/hracademy/faculty/viviana-waisman/
  4. “Viviana Waisman” American University – Washington College of Law. https://www.wcl.american.edu/impact/initiatives-programs/hracademy/faculty/viviana-waisman/
  5. Return of an Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Women’s Link Worldwide. 2022.
  6. “Women’s Link Worldwide receives transformative donation from MacKenzie Scott” Woman’s Link Worldwide. June 12, 2023. Accessed January 25, 2024. https://www.womenslinkworldwide.org/en/news-and-publications/press-room/womens-link-worldwide-receives-transformative-donation-from-mackenzie-scott-1
  7. “Gifts – Latin America & Caribbean / Columbia” Yield Giving. 2023.  https://yieldgiving.com/gifts/?locations=latin_america%26_caribbean,co
  8. Otis, John. “Abortion laws in Colombia are now among the most liberal in the Americas.” NPR. July 13, 2022. Accessed January 25, 2024. https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2022/05/10/1097570784/colombia-legalized-abortions-for-the-first-24-weeks-of-pregnancy-a-backlash-ensu
  9. “Contribution to the General Discussion on the Preparation for General Comment No. 36 on Article 6 of the ICCPR: Right to Life” Women’s Link Worldwide. June 2015. https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/Documents/HRBodies/CCPR/Discussion/2015/WomenLinkWorldwide_en.pdf
  10. “Contribution to the General Discussion on the Preparation for General Comment No. 36 on Article 6 of the ICCPR: Right to Life” Women’s Link Worldwide. June 2015. https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/Documents/HRBodies/CCPR/Discussion/2015/WomenLinkWorldwide_en.pdf
  11. “Contribution to the General Discussion on the Preparation for General Comment No. 36 on Article 6 of the ICCPR: Right to Life” Women’s Link Worldwide. June 2015. https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/Documents/HRBodies/CCPR/Discussion/2015/WomenLinkWorldwide_en.pdf
  12. “Draft General Recommendation on trafficking in women and girls in the context of global migration: Written Comments.” United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner. https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/Documents/HRBodies/CEDAW/TraffickingGlobalMigration/NGOs/LSE_and_Womens_Link_Worldwide-Traffiking_and_Womens_Link_Comments.pdf
  13. “Draft General Recommendation on trafficking in women and girls in the context of global migration: Written Comments.” United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner. https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/Documents/HRBodies/CEDAW/TraffickingGlobalMigration/NGOs/LSE_and_Womens_Link_Worldwide-Traffiking_and_Womens_Link_Comments.pdf
  14. “Trafficking in Human Beings.” Women’s Link Worldwide. https://www.womenslinkworldwide.org/en/our-work/human-trafficking
  15. “Draft General Recommendation on trafficking in women and girls in the context of global migration: Written Comments.” United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner. https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/Documents/HRBodies/CEDAW/TraffickingGlobalMigration/NGOs/LSE_and_Womens_Link_Worldwide-Traffiking_and_Womens_Link_Comments.pdf
  16. “Draft General Recommendation on trafficking in women and girls in the context of global migration: Written Comments.” United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner. https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/Documents/HRBodies/CEDAW/TraffickingGlobalMigration/NGOs/LSE_and_Womens_Link_Worldwide-Traffiking_and_Womens_Link_Comments.pdf
  17. “Jovana Rios Cisnero.” Women’s Link Worldwide. https://www.womenslinkworldwide.org/en/womens-link/our-team/jovana-rios-cisnero
  18. “Jovana Rios Cisnero.” Women’s Link Worldwide. https://www.womenslinkworldwide.org/en/womens-link/our-team/jovana-rios-cisnero
  19. “Jovana Rios Cisnero.” Women’s Link Worldwide. https://www.womenslinkworldwide.org/en/womens-link/our-team/jovana-rios-cisnero
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: October 1, 2001

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2021 Dec Form 990 $4,013,798 $2,733,691 $4,045,592 $172,755 N $3,972,910 $34,972 $257 $328,220
    2020 Dec Form 990 $2,213,279 $2,601,179 $2,803,664 $210,934 N $2,126,490 $84,648 $485 $271,233
    2019 Dec Form 990 $2,537,967 $2,905,443 $3,126,530 $145,900 N $2,421,088 $115,878 $246 $185,400 PDF
    2018 Dec Form 990 $3,604,345 $2,358,471 $3,428,883 $80,777 N $3,594,291 $6,654 $1,419 $180,000 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $2,242,482 $2,329,429 $2,902,516 $800,284 N $2,224,509 $11,454 $857 $180,000 PDF
    2016 Dec Form 990 $3,514,340 $2,339,657 $3,048,875 $859,696 N $3,496,608 $4,710 $1,912 $141,569 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $1,943,389 $1,843,260 $1,988,076 $973,580 N $1,930,126 $5,054 $3,057 $89,768 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $2,283,401 $1,543,603 $1,681,053 $766,686 N $2,285,682 $10,389 $-12,700 $102,851 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $1,311,187 $1,236,720 $1,122,475 $947,906 N $1,278,418 $30,836 $-5,859 $94,973 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $1,292,291 $1,240,294 $854,985 $754,883 N $1,240,034 $44,807 $2,783 $99,384 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $1,157,577 $1,155,204 $693,626 $645,521 N $1,089,499 $51,816 $1,912 $88,615 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Women’s Link Worldwide (WLW)


    New York, NY