Our volunteer cooperation programme, “Protection of the Rights of Children, Women and Other Vulnerable Communities” (PRODEF) ended this year. After 5 years, more than 70 volunteers have been deployed in partner organisations working for the protection of human rights in 9 countries. This is an opportunity for us to review this first experience of volunteer cooperation for the Bureau.
Several Canadian organisations participated in different ways in the Volunteer Cooperation Program (PCV), initiated and funded by World Affairs Canada. At the IBCR, we have chosen to partner with Avocats sans frontières Canada (CBSA) on the “Protection of the Rights of Children, Women and Other Vulnerable Communities” (PRODEF) project, also in collaboration with the Barreau du Québec.
Read the story of Karina, Henry or Rocío, who went to Côte d’Ivoire, Costa Rica and Colombia respectively, on missions to support children’s rights with local partner organisations.
The objectives of the project
The first project of its kind conducted by the IBCR, PRODEF aimed to address important challenges such as the insufficient protection of children’s rights, impunity, inequality in the exercise of rights and discriminatory practices, limited access to justice, corruption… To this end, volunteers have been deployed to bring specialized 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.
Between 2015 and 2020, more than 70 volunteers have been deployed by the CBSA-IBCR consortium to partner organisations in 9 countries (Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Morocco, Peru and Tunisia). They have thus helped improve the situation of thousands of women, children and youth from marginalized communities by strengthening their rights and access to justice.
26 development workers have been deployed by the IBCR, with a total of 36 mandates.
The results
Increased protection of the rights of 24,906 people, including 4,128 women and 17,221 children, thanks to the support of volunteers.
9,207 people made aware of their rights, including 5,194 women and girls
Better 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 connection with serious human rights violations (enforced disappearances, human trafficking, genocide and sexual violence…).
More than 31 legislative proposals have been drawn up in favour of the rights of children, young people and women;
Approximately 1,808 people, including 858 women trained in partner organisations.
What’s next?
PRODEF is now over, but we continue to work with local partners to ensure the sustainability of volunteer cooperation. A new volunteer cooperation project, specific to the IBCR, starts this year and will run for a period of 7 years. This new project, details of which will be announced very soon, will involve 33 partners in 11 countries.
More information here
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