CLADEM
|
|
|---|---|
| Type | NGO |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Location | Oficina Regional CLADEM, Jr. Estados Unidos 1295, Dpto. 702, Lima 11, Peru |
| Area served | Latin America and the Caribbean |
| Focus | Human rights and legal and judicial development |
| Method | Education, advocacy, lobbying, monitoring, litigation |
| Website | http://www.cladem.org/ |
The Latin American and Caribbean Committee for the Defense of Women’s Rights (Portuguese: Comitê Latino-americano e do Caribe para a Defesa dos Direitos da Mulher) or CLADEM is a feminist network that works to contribute towards the full enforcement of women’s rights in , using the law as a tool of change.
The initiative to set up an institute that supervises the implementation of national laws and international treaties was taken at the World Conference of United Nations in Nairobi in Gender Equality in Kenya, in 1985, when female lawyers were gathered to discuss topics such as corruption, slow procedures, judges with sexist attitudes, and lack of political will to defend women’s rights. Two years later, on July 3 1987, CLADEM was officially constituted in San Jose, Costa Rica . Since 1995, it possesses Category II Consulting Status with the United Nations (UN), whereas since 2002, it has the faculty to participate in the activities of the Organisation of American States (OAS).CLADEM (23 July 2010). “About CLADEM”. Retrieved 19 July 2012.Hivos. “CLADEM”. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
Activities
In order to achieve its goal to improve the socio-juridical condition and situation of women in the region, CLADEM:
- monitors international treaties (such as the Fourth World Conference on Women#The Beijing Platform for Action United Nations. “Beijing Declaration and Platform of Action”, adopted at the 4th World Conference on Women, 27 October 1995. Retrieved 21 July 2012. and the Convention of Bélem do ParáOrganization of American States. “Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence against Women” (“Convention of Belem do Para”), 9 June 1994. Retrieved 9 July 2012.)
- formulates legislative proposals
- organises research projects and training
- provides information on women’s human rights and organises solidarity actions.
CLADEM is also actively involved in litigation, and denounces and participates in cases of violation of women’s human rights in national and international courts in order to make jurisdictions accomplish the commitments they assumed regarding those rights. In recent years, this strategy in several cases has resulted in the indemnification for the victims as well as an adjustment of the law or local policies. A prominent example is Brazil ‘s law on domestic violence , referred to as the Maria da Penha law .