By Lola Fernández Palenzuela
Activists and defenders of women’s human rights highlighted in Cáceres (Spain) the importance of networks and the cooperation of women’s organizations in the struggle of the international feminist movement and demanded greater support and funding for women’s organizations to fight to the violence against women.
Last April 12, the International Network of Journalists with Gender Vision -RIPVG- was invited to participate in the 1st International Congress of Feminism and Development held in Cáceres (Spain) to claim the global struggles of women.
This first congress organized by Fundación Mujeres on behalf of the “Feministas Cooperando” Group, which includes the Extremadura organizations ADHEX, Malvaluna and MZC, had the financial support of the Extreme Cooperation of the Junta de Extremadura, AEXCID.
Organized on the basis of three round tables, the RIPVG took part in the debate table dedicated to “The role of women’s networks in global struggles” in which the Spanish partner participated on behalf of the RIPVG Lola Fernández Palenzuela and the Salvadoran feminist Griselda Arely Marta Linares, of the Latin American and Caribbean Network for the Right to Decide. In this debate, the representatives of both organizations addressed the importance of women’s alliances and networks in global struggles, emphasizing cooperation as a tool that public administrations have to channel the social commitment of citizens
Another focus of the Congress debate was the one focused on the role of “Women building feminist cooperation from empowerment and social and political participation” where the speakers presented their experiences and the strategy of their organizations when it comes to promoting social participation and Women’s politics and the importance of counting on them for the construction of a feminist cooperation policy. This includes the interventions of Rim Bribi, member of the executive of Unión Acción Feminista de Marruecos, collective that works for women since 20 years; Maria Soler, international aid worker and representative of the International Institute for Nonviolent Action -NOVACT- Mercedes Rodriguez, feminist and activist for the human rights of women of La Colectiva REM: Colectiva Mujeres Refugiadas, Exiliadas y Migradas.
A part was also dedicated to analyzing the strategies and instruments to guarantee feminist cooperation from state and decentralized cooperation in the “Institutional Dialogue” table. The Secretary of State for International Cooperation of the Government of Spain, Pilar Cancela , will participate in it; the Councilor for Equality and Cooperation of the Junta de Extremadura, Isabel Gil Rosiña and the director of Fundación Mujeres and coordinator of Feministas Cooperando, Carmen Casco Casas .
“Good feminist practices in development cooperation” will be discussed at the end of the conference. This discussion table was set up with the objective of recognizing the feminist positioning of organizations and their practices in the field of development, highlighting their actions towards feminist cooperation and encouraging public institutions to change the development approach. For this, international collaborators Ainitze Zabala Granados and Tamara de Gracia Romero , from the feminist and environmentalist assembly organization, Mugarik, were invited. Together with them, Idoia Moreno , president and co-founder of Jambo Congo and the journalist and social integrator, Zinthia Álvarez Palomino , African-American and migrant, and Tamara de Gracia Romero also spoke.
Lola Fernández Palenzuela and Maryorit Guevara, members of the RIPVG
