Working with Civil Society Organizations
At Ipas LAC, we work closely with them, based on the principles of mutual respect, collective empowerment and solidarity, to strengthen access to safe abortion and contraceptive services.
Latin America has the highest number of countries in the world that fully criminalize abortion: of the seven countries that make up Central America, three criminalize abortion in all its forms.
In this context, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and collectives have become key actors in the defense and promotion of the reproductive rights of women and pregnant women. Every day, they provide support to those facing unwanted pregnancies, offer vital information, and ensure that no one is alone in their journey. In a context where stigma remains a powerful barrier, CSOs generate spaces of trust and solidarity, becoming safe havens for those seeking to exercise their right to decide. Their work focuses not only on providing direct support, but also on raising awareness and influencing public policy.
However, CSOs face obstacles such as lack of resources, stigmatization and repression by authoritarian governments, which limit their ability to act and negatively affect the communities they work with.
Ipas LAC’s work with CSOs began in 2017, with the will to act to improve the conditions in which local organizations carry out their work, so instead of intervening directly in the territories, we preferred to influence restrictive laws and expand access to women and other people with the capacity to gestate, through support and strengthening of local organizations.
Strengthening the work of civil society organizations in the region is fundamental and urgent. At Ipas LAC, we believe in the transformative power of these organizations. They know better than anyone the needs and realities of their communities. That’s why we join forces to strengthen their work, amplify their impact and ensure that more people can access safe, quality sexual and reproductive health services.
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How do we do it?
We performed a mapping
We mapped CSOs working on women’s sexual and reproductive rights, prioritizing those with a focus on abortion and contraception. Conduct interviews with each one in order to learn about their experiences and needs.
We carried out a community diagnosis
Through the User-Centered Design (UCD) methodology, organizations assess the needs of their population and present project proposals in their community.
We provide strengthening
We provide technical assistance and advice to CSOs for the successful implementation of their projects.
Strengthen the capacities of CSOs in the area of sexual and reproductive rights through training, workshops and technical resources.
We provide grants
We provide financial resources so that organizations can implement their projects.
We accompany and follow up
With our model of working with civil society organizations, in the last 5 years we have worked with more than 60 organizations and 23 support networks.
“Without a doubt, Ipas LAC’s support, both financially and in accompanying us in our capacity building, is part of the external efforts that have allowed our organization to remain not only active, but also to grow…”