Feminist Groups Fighting Gender Inequality in Latin America
By Rebel Girl Juliana Elrod
Latin American women face many different challenges based on their culture and the country they live. Many countries experience alarming rates of domestic violence, and gender discrimination is too often normalized.
From Central to South America, feminism through Latin America varies depending on the policies and cultures of the countries women reside. Below are three accomplished feminist organizations that are still fighting for women’s rights today.
In this article, we are highlighting 3 non-profit organizations doin’ the damn for for Latinas! Be sure to follow their platforms in support if you align with their values.
Centro Feminista de Información y Acción, Cefemina
Costa Rica
CEFEMINA was founded in 1975 and was originally an organization focused on assisting women with leaving violent relationships. Today, they work in many areas including women’s health, the legal system, domestic violence, and housing issues.
Some of their main objectives include promoting feminist legal policies, creating sustainable life change for marginalized women, and to encourage forming alliances with other women’s organizations in Central America.
They work with many Latin American initiatives, some including the Latin American Women's Health Network, International Network of Action Groups for Infant Feeding, and the Mesoamericans in Resistance.
So far, CEFEMINA has participated in the creation and defense of several laws, including the Law Against Domestic Violence (1996), the Law on Criminalization of Violence Against Women (2007), and the Law for the Promotion of Breastfeeding (1994). They have created self help groups for victims of domestic violence, and developed community housing projects. For more information, you can visit their site at cefemina.com
La Casa del Encuentro
Argentina
Formed in 2003, the Casa del Encuentro sought to spread awareness on the prominence of femicide in their country. In 2008, they started gathering national statistics for femicide - or the murder of women by men who consider them their property.
Their work encourages Argentines to fight the normalization of violence against women. According to their website, their mission is “to eradicate all forms of of violence, abuse, and discrimination against women, adolescents, girls and boys,” and “to develop assistance, prevention, research studies, programs, projects, training courses and advocacy proposals in public policies that guarantee equal rights and treatment and the eradication of all forms of sexist violence.”
Along with their work researching and spreading awareness of femicide, The Meeting House also promotes better training for police and those who work in the justice system, and fights to provide students with quality sex education.
To learn more, visit their website at lascasadelencuentro.org, or follow them on their Instagram @lacasadelencuentro.
Asociación de Mujeres Trabajadoras Sexuales Colectivo Flor de Azalea
Ecuador
Flor de Azálea was created in 2002 by female sex workers as need to expose their violated rights and to fight for much needed protections. They work to prevent violence against sex workers, to create public polices for their protection, and fight to receive access to health services - including HIV/AIDS and and STI prevention. Their day to day work includes researching treatment and discrimination of sex workers, creating sanitation recommendations for indoor work spaces, and conducting meetings with various state and health authorities to create better conditions for female sex workers.
One of their most significant milestones was in 2008, when the Assembly of Ecuador created a new constitution in which Flor De Azálea added proposals to guarantee rights for sex workers. Support them on Facebook here.
We hope this blog serves a reminder of why we need to lift up and support women around the globe (because the value of one transformed woman impacts her community, her work, her mothering, our future generations, etc).