Projects

Voluntary Cooperation Programme: Protection of Children, Women and other Vulnerable Populations (PRODEF) – Costa Rica

Project duration : 2015 - 2020

In 2014, Global Affairs Canada launched a call for proposals for the renewal of the Voluntary Cooperation Program (VCP), opening the program to new Canadian organisations. It was in this context that the consortium formed by Lawyers Without Borders Canada (LWBC) and IBCR submitted its five-year Protection of the Rights of Children, Women and Vulnerable Communities (PRODEF) project. Approved in May 2015 by the Canadian government, the programme was implemented in the summer of that year.

Our objectives:

PRODEF was the first project of its kind carried out by the IBCR and aimed to improve the protection of the rights of children, women and communities in situations of poverty or marginalisation. It also aimed to strengthen democracy and improve access to justice in the countries concerned. The project sought to address important challenges, such as insufficient protection of children's rights, impunity, unequal enjoyment of rights and discriminatory practices, limited access to justice, corruption, etc.

To this end, Canadians were deployed to provide specialised technical skills and methodologies (in law, communication, social work or organisational management) to partner organisations to support the prevention, promotion, protection and defence of human rights in the countries concerned. During their stay, which can last from two weeks to several months, volunteers contribute their knowledge and skills to the work of the partner organisations.

This programme allows Canadians to gain a unique experience and subsequently contribute to raising public awareness of international cooperation and issues related to the rights of women, children and vulnerable communities.

Between 2015 and 2020, more than 70 volunteers have been deployed by the CBSA-IBCR consortium within partner organisations in 9 countries (Colombia, Costa Rica, Ivory Coast, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Morocco, Peru, Tunisia). They have improved the situation of thousands of women, children and young people from marginalised communities by strengthening their rights and their access to justice.

26 development workers were deployed by the IBCR, for a total of 36 mandates.

Realisations 

During the 5 years of the project, the Office and its consortium partner were able to achieve the following results:

• Increased protection of the rights of 24,906 people, including 4,128 women and 17,221 children, through the support of volunteers
• 9,207 people made aware of their rights, including 5,194 women and girls
• Improved legal representation for more than 4,186 victims of human rights violations, including 2,126 women and girls
• More than 300 cases dealt with before international bodies in relation to serious human rights violations (enforced disappearances, human trafficking, genocide and sexual violence...)
• More than 31 legislative proposals drawn up in favour of the rights of children, young people and women;
• Approximately 1,808 people, including 858 women, trained within partner organisations

Examples of the contribution of development workers in Costa Rica

Our partner in Costa Rica: Fundación Paniamor

• Support to the advocacy of the Paniamor Foundation and development of legislative proposals for the protection of minors' rights, leading to the adoption in 2016 of a law against inappropriate relationships, which prohibits the marriage of minors and reforms the penal code to protect them from abusive relationships.
• Raising awareness of people from vulnerable communities on the prevention and protection of children from online sexual exploitation, and training on inappropriate relationships (online digital training modules, etc.).
• Analysis of a partner's internal communication and creation of tools to focus on young people and encourage their participation.
• Implementation of an organisational diagnostic process using a participatory and inclusive approach to strengthen the organisation and implement activities for the promotion and defence of children's rights.

This project was carried out with the financial support of :