The ELAS Fund was present at the X GIFE Congress - Brazil, Democracy and Sustainable Developmentwhich took place from April 4 to 6 in São Paulo. A reference on the subject of private social investment, the GIFE Congress is an important space for learning, dialogue and exchange between the main leaders of social investors in the country, leaders of civil society organizations, academics, consultants and government representatives.
Amalia Fischer represented the ELAS Fund in the debate "What Private Social Investment can do for women's rights". The discussion brought together Jacira Melo (Instituto Patrícia Galvão), Renata Rodovalho (Instituto Avon), Maria Laura Canineu (Human Rights Watch) and Margareth Goldenberg (Movimento Mulher 360).
According to Jacira Melo, "companies, regardless of their business model, are challenged to enter the 21st century in terms of women's rights". The journalist said in the debate that having the corporate sector working to combat violence against women - who make up 52% of the population and more than 40% of the country's workforce - by demanding effective public policies throughout the country will make a huge difference because of its power to influence the public debate.Margareth Goldenberg, executive manager of the Women 360 movement, a partner of the ELAS Fund, said that the institution works to empower women economically. "The more economically empowered a woman is, the less vulnerable she is," she said. The movement was born as a complement to the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs) promoted by UN Women. The organization focuses on three main audiences: employees of companies working to advance institutional gender equality, women in the communities surrounding corporations and women in the companies' value chain, i.e. their suppliers. "Our mission is to help these companies advance these principles on a day-to-day basis, in a very practical way," she explained.
Amalia Fischer emphasized that feminism has a fundamental role to play in advancing the debate on violence against women in the field of private social investment. "It's very important at this time that we recognize ourselves as feminists. If, on the one hand, companies have made progress, on the other, the context is adverse for each of us and for companies too," she said. She advocates that companies support feminist organizations fighting for women's rights. "These organizations have precious intangible capital for all the companies here. We need to open our minds and hearts to start investing in them and not just in their projects," she said.
Amalia mencionou o exemplo do Instituto Avon, parceiro do Fundo ELAS no Fundo Fale Sem Medo, programa voltado para o fim da violência contra as mulheres. “Nós ouvimos o movimento para entender do que ele precisa e devolvemos isso a ele. Para as organiza&