Advocating for the rights of women and girls and promoting gender equality are fundamental values rooted in the very essence of CECI since its creation.
Women and Girls' Rights
With an intersectional approach, focused on rights and diversity, CECI supports the actions of women and girls and advocates for their rights. In collaboration with its partners, the organization works from a global perspective, addressing individual, familial, community and environmental (institutional, political and service-related) levels. We promote positive masculinity and intersectional feminism approaches, support women's claims and their organizations to advance their rights and ensure that each of our partners is committed to gender equality.
Our Strategy
Intersectional Approach
The intersectional approach takes into account the articulation of various forms of discrimination (based on gender, race, sexual orientation, disability, etc.) that intersect and sometimes reinforce each other.
Positive Masculinities
Positive masculinities allow us to work with men and boys as allies, drawing on the positive role they can play in the fight for gender equality. This involves recognizing different masculine identities and stereotypes, as well as the dynamics of participation and valuing the contributions of men and boys who see feminism as a positive instrument of social progress.
Overview of the Current Situation
1/3
of women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence at least once in their lifetime in the world (UN Women)
11%
of countries on the planet have a female head of state (UN Women)
830
women die every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth in the world (WHO)
Promoting Change
IssuesThere are social and structural inequalities between women and men.
Throughout the world, women and girls face many challenges in realizing their full rights: systemic inequalities, discrimination, stereotypes, unrecognized workloads, persistent sexual and gender-based violence, etc. Today, women produce the majority of agricultural products, but rarely control the resources they produce. The patriarchal systems in which they operate also limit their property rights, as well as their access to and participation in decision-making and full equality with men.
Our ApproachesWith an intersectional approach, based on rights and diversity, CECI supports women and girls' demands for equal rights.
Reducing constraints and obstacles to women and girls' access to adequate and quality essential services (education, health and justice).
Supporting a coordinated and effective response to preventing and combating gender-based violence and promoting positive masculinities.
Supporting women's movements (civil society organizations and networks) and collective action to promote women's rights and gender equality and amplify self-representation and leadership.
Encouraging efforts that advance women's property rights (land and non-land assets).
Expected ChangesThe rights of women and girls are protected, respected and fulfilled.
These actions aim to enable women and girls to access essential services that are adapted and sensitive to the issues they face, to live a life free from violence, to organize and participate in decision-making spaces, and to have control over the resources that enable their self-determination.This way, they can claim their rights at all levels and in all circumstances, in a supportive and inclusive environment. As a result, women and girls’ rights will be protected, respected and materialized.
Our impact
1860 organizations representing over a million women have formed a coalition with the support of CECI in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. Their work has led to the adoption of the Kampala Declaration, supporting the implementation of national plans aimed at reducing gender-based and sexual violence.