ALIANZA de MUJERES COSTARRICENSE
Contact: Ana Hernandes amccpalm@racsa.co.ar
A LOOK AT OUR HISTORY
Alianza de Mujeres Costarricenses
15 de setiembre, 1952 - 2002
"50 Aniversario"
For the Alianza de Mujeres Costarricenses the year 2002 represents a time to remember the energy inherited by many women that have contributed to 50 years of work and have developed new ways of making policy in support of the Women's Human Rights. Since 1952, the Alianza has promoted and supported the organization and mobilization of women for the defense of their rights, social justice, peace and equality. United, women can lead an organized fight against all forms of discrimination, all forms of violence be it sexual aggression, physical abuse, violations or incest.
We have promoted the fulfillment of women's rights-equal work conditions without discrimination due to sex or marital status and a just salary, the incorporation of the family into daily housework, and for the help of the state through services that eliminated the second shift that society imposes on women-through our "Centro Popular de Asesoria Legal para la Mujer".
We have also strived for the protection of children-with nurseries, school homes and recreational parks- and for the application of the United Nation's Convention on Children's Rights in order to strengthen all protection programs and denounce diverse forms of aggression and social abuse which inhibit the healthy growth of children. In 1972, the Alianza de Mujeres Costarricense proposed the first nurseries. These were later implemented in 1976. Between 1984 and 1986 we organized debates and mobilized for the Legislative Assembly to achieve the stability of these programs and assure adequate funding. At the same time we supported the modifications in the Work Code regarding the maternity license both the month before and the month after giving birth.
The Alianza works toward the elimination of sexist stereotypes that isolate women at home as well as the social recognition of domestic work. In 1991 we contributed to the creation of a Domestic Workers Association which today has its own shelter and attention program.
We fight for education, housing, health, work and land because only the full extension of women's human rights will guarantee equality and reaffirm our conviction in democracy, justice and peace. Coordination at the local level, with 60 women's Regional Committees, and at the national level, with the Director's Board and the Council, has promoted specific actions.
To counter the commercial use of a sexist image of women we have participated for six years in the Advice Council of the Control and Propaganda Office.
An important accomplishment was the provision of leadership training to 17,486 women between 1995 and 1998 so that they would serve as Communal Legal Instructors. This facilitated empowerment and solidarity at the local, regional and national level.
The group exchanges have been very important in allowing methods, strategies and mechanisms with which to make proposals and demands to state institutions to be shared and learned.
We permanently support the demand for the fulfillment of the rights of women with the creation and modification of laws so that they conform to the United Nations Convention of the elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women. In 1984, the Alianza proposed and achieved its ratification to Costa Rica's Legislative Assembly.
The AMC has organized to demand that attention be paid to the overall health of women, that they receive warm and quality treatment. To this end, we edit informative material and run local, regional and national workshops. We also coordinate activities and plans of action regarding health programs with FUNUAP/UN and the Women's Health Network for Latin America and the Caribbean/BILANCE.
In 1996, with support from the embassy of Holland, we produced a study and national debate, "Reflection and analysis of women's health". This investigation in conjunction with our work history allows us to strengthen our defense of women's rights-especially with regards to health, sexuality and reproduction-by providing us with specific indicators. With these objectives, between 1982 and 1991, the AMC has been able to provide:
- Legal psychological and social assistance.
- Popular Education Program, publications by and for women.
- Counseling on how to organize and directly reach State institutions with proposals.
- Human Development training and management training for the design of productive ideas.
- Permanent teachings that have allowed women to construct a daily participative methodology. To date we have edited 7 teaching manuals, 20 files of different sizes and more that 30 popular pamphlets.
- We have a Documentation Center with more that 30,000 titles.
- We have accompanied a network of support and community action groups at the national level.
- Since 1952, we edit "Nuestra Voz" a bulletin which received an honorable mention for the Angela Acuña National Prize in 1993.
Since 1982, we have been the first space in giving attention to domestic violence as well as sexual rights of women. We thank the Global Women's Fund for its help since 1999 in advancing the universality of these.
In 1952, the AMC proposed that the Supreme Court of Elections should dedicate a specific budget for feminine "cedulacion", so that women could obtain judicial standing as citizens with equal rights as with men. Today we demand 40% of elected positions. Starting in 1999, we maintain ties to the defense unit of the Comsumidores del Ministerio de Economia. Our goal is that local groups and communities will take their rights and use the mechanisms available to defend them.
For the Alianza, if women's needs and strategies are not paid attention, it becomes necessary to strengthen the diverse organizations that allow women to make their demands before those who make economic and social policies that affect our quality of life. Today we face globalism, Free Trade Agreements and plans such as Puebla Panama, to name a few challenges.
In October of 2000, with the support of Canadian embassy's fund for Gender Equality, we joined the Women's World March against violence and poverty in New York.
The Alianza de Mujeres Costarricenses adds its support to the Beijing Platform and its statements regarding women's rights. We also lend our support to the health, sexuality and reproductive rights stated in the Cairo Platform as well as the quality of life and sustainability aspects of Habitat's Platform. In 1996, with the help of UNDP/TCDC/UNIFEM/UN and the embassy of Holland, we held an International and a Latin American meeting of grassroots groups with the purpose of achieving a greater participation of common women in the United Nation's World Conference on Women held in Beijing.
Between 1996 and 1998, the Alianza was hired by the Instituto Mixto de Ayuda Social to give leadership training to groups of women heads of households in the regions of Brunca, Chorotega and Central. More than 1000 women participated. In the region of Bruca we have empowered almost 10 groups with management skills. Between 1999 and 2002 we have trained 1,500 women of all ages in five regions of the country.
The Alianza's technique has centered on learning and sharing with women of all ages. This has contributed to the construction of a participative working methodology that is for and by women. Grassroots women, a National Director's Board of nine members and a Council of 35 women all participate as a basic interdisciplinary team to execute our work. Today we face new challenges yet we continue forward more united and stronger to defend with even more strength the Human Rights of Women.