A rights tent in the Sahara, a terreiro, bingo, gastronomy and catering, community radio, art and culture, soccer, graffiti and city planning. What these actions have in common is the leadership of women in preventing violence and encouraging their communities to access the Maria da Penha Law. Funded by the Avon Institute in unprecedented cooperation with UN Women and with support from the ELAS Fund, the project "Education for Women's Rights: Disseminating Knowledge about the Maria da Penha Law and its Use" benefited 11 community groups and collectives in Cidade de Deus, Complexo do Alemão, Complexo da Maré, Morro do Vidigal, Pavão, Pavãozinho, Tavares Bastos, Formiga - all in the capital of Rio de Janeiro - and in Duque de Caxias, São João do Meriti and São Gonçalo.
The pilot projects carried out in the state of Rio de Janeiro received R$300,000 from the Speak Without Fear Fund, a partnership between the ELAS Fund and the Avon Institute. They were selected in the first call for proposals from the Speak Without Fear Fund, launched in 2013, and their projects were implemented throughout 2014. The third call for projects received applications until January 20, 2016. In total, more than R$3 million will be invested in this contest. 30 projects from all over the country will be supported.
For Nadine Gasman, representative of UN Women Brazil, the projects have had immediate and long-term results because of the relationship they have with their communities. "The resources, the recognition of their work and the training are empowering for women. You can see this power in their lives and in their communities," says Gasman.
"I never saw myself as a leader. Today, I make people feel like leaders. I empowered myself and I try to empower other women," says LucyLayne Nascimento, a multiplier at Casa Mulher Trabalhadora (CAMTRA), which runs workshops with young women in Duque de Caxias.
In Morro do Vidigal, the Association of Women of Action and Reaction (AMAR) created the project Empowered Matriarchy: Women of Vidigal against Gender Violence. Workshops were held on body expression, brush art and Maria da Penha bingo. "Our fight is based on combating violence against women. But our initial reception is with the health base and with it we worked on African culture. That's how we found it. We had a direct dialog between us and the community," says Aline Fernandes, president of AMAR
Combining communication and living without violence as human rights, women in Complexo do Alemão discuss their rights on the radio. "The radio is based on women from the community. Community radio stations are very macho environments. Today, I'm the gender director of the Rio de Janeiro Community Radio Association," says Sheila Andrade, coordinator of Rádio Mulher.
No Complexo da Maré, o empoderamento das mulheres se dá pelo conhecimento sobre a sua própria condição e pela inclusão produtiva. “O projeto se organiza em duas vertentes: qualificação profissional e geração de renda. Além das aulas de gastronomia, a gente tem oficina de gênero e cidadania. A gent