UNA, is an Austrian NGO and was founded in 2018. UNA assists women and girls in the Kerala region in the rural south of India by providing human and women’s rights education, career guidance, self-defence courses and medical assistance. UNA also perform surgeries for poor women and girls in the area.  

Together with local partners, UNA works to create a better future for women and girls putting in place structures to empower them to lead a better life. A life free from fear, in which they can achieve their goals and develop their full potential. 

It has been called “the most pervasive yet least recognized human rights abuse in the world.”  

UNAforWomen are tackling this issue from a human rights and medical approach - the latter being a consequence of so many other abuses the women in Kumbalanghi are facing.

Because they have not enjoyed any sort of formal education, because they are not allowed to work, because they are victims of domestic violence and online abuse - their health is threatened in an unprecedented way. 

Women and girls in Kumbalanghi will thrive, as they are able to get help for their medical problems, and is given a better, higher degree of education. Alongside they are being taught how to take very great care of themselves. In addition to that, their lives are changing for good.

The whole village will be educated with regards to human and in particular women rights, special programs and workshops is conducted, and change is happening through the empowerment of each and every single woman, their families and the community as a whole

UNA is accompanied by three surgeons, all doing voluntary work, from a hospital in Vienna. One of the Doctors has previous experience working in India as a surgeon before starting her work with UNA.

In Kochi, UNA have a co-operative partner, the Fatimah hospital, which provides the infrastructure and where the surgeons and other medical personnel will perform surgeries and different types of medical services.

UNA are planning to visit the region in the beginning of 2023 to continue their work which was halted by the Covid pandemic.

A numerous number of surgeries will be performed by the three surgeons during the stay to improve the situation for the affected.

The director of the Hospital is key to spread the news about the medical camp since he is in direct contact with the people that need the support. The director, and his staff, is able to determine which women that could be in most need based on how long time ago they received any kind of medical assistance.