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March, 8. International Women's Day

05-03-2020

Women empowerment and full equality is key to the development of communities and achieve a fairer and more sustainable Planet. On March 8, International Women's Day is celebrated worldwide. The theme in 2020 is “I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights”.

Women have a fundamental role in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A good part of these objectives specifically affect the equality and empowerment of women, a common aspect of the development actions carried out by Humana.

Among others, SDG 5 proposes:

  • End all forms of discrimination.
  • Eradicate all forms of violence in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual exploitation and other types of exploitation.
  • Undertake reforms that grant women the right to economic resources on equal terms, as well as access to property and control of land and other assets, financial services, inheritance and natural resources.
  • This year's International Women's Day celebration also coincides with the twenty-fifth anniversary of the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a progressive roadmap for gender equality.

The example of Belize and the project to strengthen respect for human rights

Humana People to People places women at the center of community development. Therefore, female empowerment is a transversal element to all the cooperation actions that the Federation and the organizations that are part of it carry out. In Belize, in the Toledo district, for example, work is being done to strengthen the fulfillment of human rights.

Its fundamental objective is to improve the well-being of the communities involved, insisting on knowledge and respect for human rights, with special attention to women. For this, training, sensitization and mobilization sessions of the community, its leaders and local authorities are organized. These sessions include debates about fundamental rights and respect for them. In addition, about twenty volunteers have been trained as project activists. A campaign has also been carried out to eradicate child labor and promote a return to school.

One of the first challenges faced by our Humana People to People Belize (HPP Belize) partners was the acceptance by the community leaders of the planned activities. Some of them considered that it would interfere with habitual customs and population dynamics. Thanks to the effort of the Humana team, they managed to earn their respect and support, essential for the future of the action.

Apart from the main objectives, 84 children have been reincorporated to primary school. HPP Belize has also had the opportunity to weave an interesting network of contacts, both among other governmental organizations working in the area - Toledo Institute for Development and Environment, Yaxche Conservation Trust and the Sarstoon Temah Institute for Indigenous Management - and within the administration. Thus, they have shown interest in the activities implemented by the National Women's Commission and the District Committee on Gender Violence of the Ministry of Human Development, Poverty and Social Transformation.

Humana Women Empowerment. Some figures

  • About 100,000 people participate each year in the Humana People to People agriculture programs. More than half are women.
  • An average of 5,000 primary school teachers graduate each year in more than fifty teacher schools supported by Humana. 33% are women.
  • Around 4.5 million people are involved each year in Humana's TCE program to combat HIV / AIDS. More than 50% are women.
  • 7 out of 10 of the 650 employees of Humana Fundación Pueblo para Pueblo are women. Half of the upper and middle managers are women.

 

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