Cepia

Cepia is a non-governmental organization (NGO) focused on the lobbying and advocacy of human rights, particularly women’s rights. Its name stands for “Cidadania, Estudo, Pesquisa, Informação, Ação” (Portuguese) – that is, “Citizenship, Study, Research, Information, Action” – and, accordingly, its mission is to develop projects that contribute to the knowledge, expansion and realization of human rights and all rights associated with citizenship, especially among groups that have traditionally been prevented or excluded from exercising such rights. Working from a gender perspective, Cepia’s activities cover issues of health, sexual and Reproductive Rights , violence against women and access to justice, poverty and employment.

Cepia was founded in 1990 and is situated in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil . Whilst several of its projects pertain to Brazil, it is also very active on an international level. From its inception, Cepia has received support from, and cooperated with, different institutions, including: the Ford Foundation; the MacArthur Foundation; the United NationsFPA (UNFPA); the United NationsICEF (UNICEF); the United Nations Women (UN Women); the European Commission ; the STD and AIDS Programme run by the Brazilian Health Ministry;The National STD and AIDS Programme of the Ministry of Health, Brazil (Programa Nacional de DST e AIDS do Ministério da Saúde). In 2009 the Programme became a department within the Ministry of Health’s Health Surveillance Secretariat. the Secretaria Especial de Políticas para as Mulheres (the Special Secretary of Policies for Women), Brazil (SPM); the Global Fund for Women ; and the OAK Foundation.

Activities

Cepia groups its activities into five main programmes:Cepia. “Programs”. Retrieved 30 October 2012.

1. Human rights, access to justice and violence against women;
2. Sexual and reproductive rights;
3. Civil society forum of the Americas;
4. Conferences, seminars and meetings; and
5. Women’s human rights.

Women’s rights represent a focal point in Cepia’s work. The organisation proposes and supports claims on behalf of the women’s movement and collaborates with other NGOs and governmental entities to promote women’s citizenship rights and define strategies for the struggle against discrimination and gender violence.

Elements of education, research and advocacy are present in every one of Cepia’s programmes. The organisation monitors and critically assesses public policies, whilst maintaining an open dialogue with and amongst different social groups, including law and health professionals, trade union members, NGOs, civil servants and politicians. The organisation’s educational activities include the coordination of training courses – for medical staff, medical students and the police force, amongst othersCepia. “Courses”. Retrieved 30 October 2012. (also see below) – and the development of documentaries and television and radio campaigns for broadcast by Brazil’s main channels, covering topics such as sexual and reproductive rights, and HIV/AIDS prevention amongst women.Cepia. “On the media”. Retrieved 30 October 2012.

Major accomplishments

During an interview with the global network World Movement for Democracy,World Movement for Democracy. “Interview with Jacqueline Pitanguy of Cepia (Citizenship, Studies, Information, Action)-(Brazil) on Human Rights”. Retrieved 30 October 2012. Jacqueline Pitanguy, Director of Cepia, stated that the major accomplishments of Cepia included the following:

• the fact that it was one of the first NGOs to advocate for the establishment of centers to work with female victims of sexual abuse, with its work in this area dating from 1993;
• the development in Rio de Janiero, in cooperation with the State Department of Health, of education programmes for health professionals on matters pertaining to gender and violence against women;
• the coordination, since 1996, of a course for medical students during which the students debate issues such as human rights, gender equality, and race discrimination, and the organisation, since 2003, of a yearly workshop called “Programa Internacional de Formação em Direitos Humanos das Mulheres” (“International Program for Training and Capacity Building in Women’s Human Rights”) to train men and women working in the fields of health and security;
• the creation of education programmes for the police force, educating police officers about the relevance of informing victims of sexual abuse about emergency contraception, prophylactics against STDs and AIDS transmission, and abortion procedures, and the importance of referring them to support and health centres.

This interview with Jacqueline Pitanguy, about the accomplishments of Cepia and the victories of Brasilian women, was filmed by TV5Monde at the Women’s forum of Deauville, France , on 13 October 2011.

Major publications

On 2 April 2012, UN Women and Cepia launched the publication “O Progresso das Mulheres no Brasil (2003-2010)” (“The Advancement of women in Brazil (2003-2010)”)Cepia and ONU Mulheres (UN Women) (October 2011).[www.cepia.org.br/progresso.pdf “O Progresso das Mulheres no Brasil (2003-2010)”]. Retrieved 30 October 2012. The publication provides an overview of various topics related to the life of Brazilian women, such as violence, political participation, economic development, sexual and reproductive rights, education, racial and ethnic relations, among others. Demonstrates major advances in public policy, but points to the challenges confronting gender inequalities, especially exclusion and violence that affects women of low income, rural, black and indigenous.ONU Mulheres (UN Women) (2 April 2012). “02.04.12 ONU Mulheres e Cepia realizam seminário de lançamento do O Progresso das Mulheres no Brasil 2003-2010” (02.04.12 UN Women and Cepia organise a seminar for the launch of The Advancement of Women In Brazil 2003-2010). Retrieved 30 October 2012. The book constitutes a follow up to a previous publication covering the years 1992-2002. This report has become a classic reference for gender analysis in Brazil, bringing together the best thinking of scholars, activists and analysts feminist politics over the previous decade.

References

See also

• Maria da Penha law
• Domestic violence against women in Brazil

External links

• Cepia – Official website
• Interview with Jacqueline Pitanguy (Director of Cepia)

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