Centro de Estudios de la Mujer - Honduras (CEMH)
CEMH was founded in 1986 and obtained its legal status no. 209-87 on the 6 August 1987, as a civil not for profit organisation without political or religious ties. The organisation’s mission is to contribute to the elimination of different forms of discrimination and violence against women, promote and contribute to the transformation of the economic, social and cultural structure of the country in order to procure a more inclusive society, without poverty, with social justice and gender equality, and enable full citizenship and the human rights of women.
CAWN started an exciting project in September 2006 with CEMH:
Challenging violence against women in Honduras: identifying the links between poverty reduction and promoting women’s rights
The project supports young and adult women in poor and marginalised communities in Honduras affected by violence by providing them with resources and tools and by offering emotional and legal support in order to overcome gender-based violence. In order to support the empowerment of women to tackle gender-based violence CEM-H will set up self help groups to access services, and provide training on reproductive rights, HIV/AIDS, self-esteem and practical income generation skills.
The project is training community leaders to contribute to the prevention of violence and to support cases of domestic violence and other forms of gender violence and also to work on promoting equitable gender relations in their communities. CEM-H works on preventing violence against women and girls through workshops with the wider community and with the perpetrators of violence, working with young and adult men on the construction of a new masculinity.
Through research and advocacy the legal framework and justice system in Honduras will be able to address gender-based violence, to increase social awareness of violence in the community and to strengthen the security and human rights of women. CEMH is also involved in research that investigates the rise in hate crimes and violence against women in Honduras and other Central American countries. All the research findings and experiences of violence against women in the region are being shared across the globe through different advocacy activities that target public policies, nationally and internationally.
During the course of the project CAWN will invite members of CEM-H to visit the UK and Europe, to speak at seminars to share experiences and findings of the research done in Honduras and the UK with women’s organisations, NGOs, academics and policy makers.
The project is funded by a grant from the Big Lottery Fund for 5 years.