A Boon to Mexican Women - Essay Example

Semillas: A boon to Mexican women "Semillas" (Sociedad Mexicana Pro Derechos de la Mujer, A.C is unique national wide non-profit organization in Mexico that makes grants to organized women's groups that seek to develop projects to promote the awareness and exercise of women's human rights. It is a Spanish word which means "seeds". This organization is the only women's fund in Mexico and is relevant with all the duties of women and her responsibilities as mothers, caretakers, providers, field workers, business owners, social leaders, scholars, artists, etc. and helps them to make changes for the betterment of their families, communities and society in a big way. (http://ingles.semillas.org.mx/) Semillas was founded by Lucero Gonzalez, who understood the significance of uniting women of all economic and educational backgrounds, concerned in humanity. It was formed over the past 15 years, by a group of few women lawyers and international human rights law experts who came together to change and prove that the enlightening disgrace that love for humankind and charity are one and the same. (http://www.learningtogive.org/papers/paper214.html) Semillas receives its funds from the international cooperation, institutions and individual donors and from the Mexican society and the corporation. It not only provides financial resources to the women's organizations, but also gives institutional strengthening support through its wide experience in the field with the help of experts. This organization also strengthens Mexican women's rights, helps in constructing a fair society, promotes a society of equality between men and women and improves the condition of life for future generations. (http://ingles.semillas.org.mx/index.phpoption=com_content&view=article&id=54:quienes-somos&Itemid=34) These resources are then awarded as grants to organizations that work in four primary areas such as Humans Rights, Women and Work, Sexual and Reproductive Rights and Gender Violence. Semillas not only provide economic resources, but also provides follow up for women groups that make stronger their leadership and organizing capabilities for monitoring and evaluating their projects and for resource development. For over four decades there has been violence in the Mexican countries. Due to the civil conflict between both the both left-wing guerilla groups and right-wing Para-military forces, fuelled by politics has made this place hell. Not only this but drug-related crime and government-sponsored violence, this internal war has killed thousands and made millions of people homeless. People who stand up for their rights and justice are killed. Women activists have been raped, mutilated, disfigured and murdered. They are driven out from their communities to stop their heroic efforts to build community and demand justice. Semillas offers a simple and productive way to be active participants in Mexico's social change process through its Network of Women Investing in Women and Men in Solidarity (WIW Network). This Network is composed of 560 women and men who seek to support women's cause through their investment donations. This organization observes the significant advantage in encouraging women and girls to widen and use their talents and gifts. The group has brought to justice the cases of women forcibly displaced and of those who have suffered political violence, including sexual violence. There are various groups such as Observatory on Gender, Democracy and Human Rights (Observatorio, Genero, Democracia y Derechos Humanos) who increase hope and a chance to make this possible. Due to the large efforts of the Observatory', the Inter-American Court of Human Rights has issued rulings on illustrative cases of killings carried out by paramilitary groups supposedly with the knowledge of the security forces. The Observatory used a $50,000 grant to strengthen its internal infrastructure and improve its ability to respond to the needs of internally displaced women. (http://www.learningtogive.org/papers/paper214.html) The Trust Fund award Semillas received an award in 2004 form the Trust Fund in order to strengthen some of the women's organizations more active in the field of prevention of VAW and justice. The final aim of the project has been to accomplish an Action Plan between the four organizations selected to be supported in Cd. Juarez: Nuestras Hijas de Regreso a Casa, Casa Amiga, Las Hormigas and Compaeros. In the case of Cd. Jurez Semillas has been present since 1994. Esther Chavez had been given its first grant, to raise the voices against the women's assassinations; they have also made a study of analysis in 2003 in order to understand better the best way to support the action of civil society in that border city. The main objectives of this organization were: 1. Protecting the women and children against violence. 2. Procuring justice to the assassinated women by way of court cases. 3. Forming a strong community in the poorest areas of Cd. Jurez. 4. Protecting women from sexual abuse. 5. Giving women equal rights as the men. Semillas decided to initiate the project as part of a medium term strengthening process and begun to work one by one with the four organizations selected. The project included the interventions of experts with the organizations in: Strategic planning Conflict resolution Institutional strengthening Strategic and effective communication techniques. The achievements of the project: Semillas has done all the work around strategic planning and the following of the different activities the organizations. Semillas also contracted experts to work in conflict resolution and more specifically making direct interventions in order to strengthen "Nuestras Hijas de Regreso a Casa" (NHRC). (http://www.unifem.org/attachments/events/Remarks_EmilienneDeLeon.pdf) The organizations have taken the following actions in all the areas: They have created a number of workshops and seminars (more than 60) within the poorest population in Juarez around the education to prevent violence and abuse to women and children. Encourage participation in marches, demonstrations and solicitations of justice. NHRC has a legal status and they learned how to prepare a case to be presented to the justice authorities in Mexico and into the IAC. They have prepared 6 cases to be presented in the Inter-American Commission that some of them had already being accepted and others are now accepted, as a second phase, in the Inter-American Court. Follow up of 2 cases that had already been accepted in the IAC and one of them is now accepted in the Inter-American Court. Reinforcing NHRC and accomplishing a new relationship with other organizations. Strategic planning process for Casa Amiga.and a better relationship with NHRC. Strategic planning process Las Hormigas and a women's group of the community. Workshops on effective communication a how to deal with conflicts among the four organizations facilitated by an expert and leaded by Compaeros as part of their strengthening process. But more important is the fact that all these four organizations has been strengthened in their capacity to act with the authorities, with other organizations, to be more visible and more strategic. Semillas gathered them in a special workshop on effective communication that gave them the opportunity to learn more from the others and to look on the common issues they can raise together. Now, they can act together, and believe again in each other, they regained their trust on the work of that the others are doing and also revealed the tough and strategic capacity they can accomplish being together. (http://www.unifem.org/attachments/events/Remarks_EmilienneDeLeon.pdf) The continuity of the process In the near future it is quite possible that an attempt will be made to promote a greater incidence and articulation of those, who in a joint form, come out in the formulation and later in the implementation of said Plan, that could serve as an effective, efficient and legitimate instrument and as a reference document to plan, design and implement concrete public policies that will have an impact in the medium and long term against femicide and violence against women. Likewise, it will serve for the elaboration of concrete and efficient proposals that may be taken later and supported by relevant authorities. Our commitment is to continue raising our voices, supporting women's organizations in Juarez and trying to do the more strategic and joint actions in order to go forward the solution. No more impunity, justice for the victims and stop violence against women. In the beginning there was no trust between the members of the organizations; several unconstructive situations, misunderstandings had taken place and they were even angry among themselves and had no intentions to work together. Each organization had different necessities to improve their work and their strategic vision. "Nuestras Hijas de Regreso a Casa" needed more attention and support than the others because many mothers left the organization and they even had a legal status. (http://www.unifem.org/attachments/events/Remarks_EmilienneDeLeon.pdf) Today, Semillas is part of two international networks: Women's Funding Network and the International Network of Women's Funds. They now have a grant from the Ford Foundation to make a continuity of the strengthening process with Nuestras Hijas de Regreso a Casa. Some of the grants they received are as follows: 4th Lesbian March, Mexico City, $15,000 Casa Amiga - Ciudad Juarez, $20,000 "The Free Women" Center for Information on Sexual Health, Guanajuato, $24,000 Organizing Committee for the Autonomous Feminist Encuentro: Building Community in the House of Differences, Las Vegas, $6,000 Women's Group of the Peoples Front in Defense of the Lands of San Salvador Atenco, $11,000 A.C. (Queer Research and Studies), Mxico, $20,000 Underground Woman and Culture, Mexico City, $16,000 Network of Domestic Workers in Mexico, Mexico, $8,000 The Network of Women Citizens for non-violence against women, Hermosillo, $10,000 Semillas - Sociedad Mexicana Pro Derechos de la Mujer (Seeds - Mexican Society for Women's Rights), Mexico, $80,000 Telemanita A.C. (Video-Network Women), $20,000 XI Latin American and Caribbean Feminist Encuentro, Mexico, $70,000 (http://www.efc.be/ftp/public/aga/2007/Postscripts/AllReports.pdf) El Semilln Campaign Semillas has launched El Semilln Campaign (The Big Seed) for the fifth year in a row. Its main objective is to raise one million pesos (80,000USD) from October 15th, to March 15th, in order to support 10 additional women's organizations and their projects during 2010. El Semilln has achieved the following projects: Kari Igomari Niwara. ( The House Belongs to Women). A group of native women in the State of Chihuahua, formed an intercultural and bilingual program for its elementary school. Semillas fund was used to develop new programs for the school, covering topics such as gender equity and prevention of addictions. Some of the accomplished results: There was a 90% increase in the participation of school girls in male dominated activities, such as basketball. There was a 90% increase in the participation of school boys in activities such as cleaning the common areas and the cafeteria, which was considered entirely feminine. There were no drop-outs among girls registered. (http://ingles.semillas.org.mx/index.phpoption=com_content&view=article&id=200&Itemid=98) Dzitnup. Group of women artisans in the State of Yucatn. Dzitnup is a women's design project that seeks to promote creative, economic and social liberty for women artisans. These women produce blouses, skirts, belts and jewellery combining the innovation that today's market demands and their traditional embroidery, as well as cultural background. They have accomplished the following: Constitution as a legal, independent cooperative and workshop Nowadays, they export to Spain, Switzerland, Holland and Japan. Their work has been portrayed in magazines, such as Marie Claire and ELLE. (http://ingles.semillas.org.mx/index.phpoption=com_content&view=article&id=200&Itemid=98) Mexican humanity has been defined as charity and Semillas want to change this communal dishonor. Semillas wants humanity to be recognized as a community obligation where everyone contributes and profits. Semillas wants to form a new image for the people of Mexico and change the way they view humanity. They want to form the notion that time, talent, work and money are all part of humanity. Citations http://ingles.semillas.org.mx/ http://www.learningtogive.org/papers/paper214.html http://ingles.semillas.org.mx/index.phpoption=com_content&view=article&id=197&Itemid=91 http://www.unifem.org/attachments/events/Remarks_EmilienneDeLeon.pdf http://ingles.semillas.org.mx/index.phpoption=com_content&view=article&id=200&Itemid=98 http://www.efc.be/ftp/public/aga/2007/Postscripts/AllReports.pdf Read More