The 11th National Congress of Domestic Workers will be held in Rio de Janeiro from September 21 to 25. The theme of this edition of the Congress is "Ratification of Convention 189 and Equal Rights".
"Mate help me, I can't walk alone, I walk well on my own but with you I walk better" was the cry that opened the event, an important moment of struggle and debate on the rights of the category, which brought together more than 70 domestic workers from all Brazilian states. Sixteen unions were represented at the meeting.
Savana Brito, our program manager, represented the ELAS Fund at the opening table, thanking the National Federation of Domestic Workers (Fenatrad) for inviting her and reinforcing the ELAS Fund's commitment to the struggle of domestic workers.
On the occasion, Savana greeted several representatives of unions supported in the XVII Project Contest, focused on the fight for the rights of domestic workers in Brazil (learn more about the program below). Also represented were partner organizations supported by the ELAS Fund, such as Themis, UN Women, SOS Corpo and Casa Laudelina de Campos Mello.
ELAS Fund for the rights of domestic workers
Developed by the ELAS Fund in partnership with Themis - Assessoria Jurídica e Estudos de Gênero, the project aimed to institutionally strengthen the National Federation of Domestic Workers (Fenatrad) and domestic workers' unions or associations, as well as mobilize and ensure political support for domestic workers' rights.
Through the ELAS Fund's 17th Project Competition, with support from the UN Gender Equality Fund, domestic workers from five regions of Brazil benefited.
The trade unionists pointed to major advances in trade union participation in national efforts to regulate the new legislation. They mentioned the increase in the number of members, the greater regularity in the services provided by the unions, access to equipment and means of communication, participation in important national meetings and the empowerment of women workers.
Some of the main results were the strengthening of the institutional capacity of 9 domestic workers' unions through the training of 50 union leaders and activists from all regions of the country, the development of the capacity to protect the labor rights of domestic workers through partnerships with the government and professionals in the field of law, and the training of domestic workers in topics such as human rights, state organization and labor legislation.
Além disso, o pr