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Human Rights Advocacy

MADRE's human rights advocacy program works to make international law relevant and accountable to the people it is meant to serve. MADRE brings women who work for social change at the community level into the process of creating and improving international law by providing training and opportunities for women to advocate for their rights in local, national and international arenas. These trainings enable MADRE's sister organizations to infuse local human rights struggles with the power of international law and hold their governments accountable to international human rights standards. Conversely, the participation of community-based women's human rights activists in the international arena ensures that the perspectives and needs of women and families in the global South are incorporated into international laws and processes. MADRE also serves as a bridge between our sister organizations so they can join forces on international campaigns and exchange ideas and strategies to strengthen their work for social justice in their home countries.

International Agreements and Human Rights Instruments

The international community has agreed in numerous international instruments to protect the rights of children and women; guarantee the right to food; defend people's rights to equality in political and public life and fight racism and discrimination. The governments of the countries where MADRE works have ratified key international agreements that safeguard those and other inalienable rights. However, in almost every country where MADRE works, government has failed to address people's actual needs and the reality today is that women and girls, especially those who are poor, Indigenous and of African-descent, suffer severe discrimination and remain the most marginalized people in their societies. The goal of MADRE's work is to address these unmet needs and hold governments accountable to their responsibilities and their rhetoric.

MADRE Human Rights "Trainings for Change"

MADRE ensures that community-based women are not merely present at UN conferences, but that they are equipped with proficiency in the language, format and systems of the UN and international law. Through leadership trainings and human rights education workshops, the women of our sister organizations learn the skills and training needed to advocate effectively in the international arena and, once they have returned home, to hold their governments accountable to the commitments they have made at the conferences.

MADRE "Trainings for Change" have focused on:

• International human rights instruments and women's empowerment in all of the countries where MADRE works;
• Trainings on the rights of Indigenous Peoples in: Nicaragua, Guatemala, Chiapas, Mexico and Kenya;
• Women's health with a focus on nutrition, sexual rights and reproductive rights, HIV/AIDS and combating violence against women in: Kenya, Rwanda, Guatemala, Chiapas, Mexico and Nicaragua;
• Women's human rights, leadership development, and political participation in: Rwanda, Colombia, Guatemala and Chiapas, Mexico;
• Labor rights and human rights documentation for maquila (sweatshop) workers in Guatemala;
• Human rights education and leadership with youth in Palestine and Guatemala;
• Trainings for government leaders and judges to support the formation and successful implementation of the International Criminal Court