Learn more about the Gender and Diversity Observatory in Latin America and the Caribbean, created in 2018 by the Federal University for Latin American Integration, in the special article written by Cleusa Gomes, Elane Dornelles and Natalia Fuentes.
This publication is part of the special edition produced by H2FOZ to celebrate the 110th anniversary of the municipality of Foz do Iguaçu (click here to check out all the content).
Latin American Gender and Diversity Observatory: A history of writing, public policy and activism in the triple border region of Foz do Iguaçu
Summary
The Observatory of Gender and Diversity in Latin America and the Caribbean of the Federal University for Latin American Integration (UNILA) was created by IMEA ordinance 003/2018 and published on June 21, 06. The proposal to create the observatory of research and public policies on Gender and Diversity in Latin America and the Caribbean aims to create in the university, institutional and civil society environment, as well as in the Triple Border Region of Foz do Iguaçu and the region, a space for articulation to promote research, teaching and extension on the theme of Gender, Public Policies and Diversity in Latin America and the Caribbean with the purpose of bringing together researchers, thematic and working groups of the Institution, external entities and civil society and non-governmental organizations. in favor of valuing gender, race, class and sex equity and enabling public policies focused on diversity in Latin America. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to shed some light on the history of the Observatory, as well as the network of institutions that work with gender violence policy on the border, in addition to one of the main actions currently carried out by the institution, which is the monitoring and collection of data on this topic in the region. It also points out the advances and challenges in the implementation of public policies on Gender and Diversity in the City of Foz do Iguaçu.
1. Introduction
In the city of Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil, which borders Ciudad del Este (Paraguay) and Puerto Iguazú (Argentina), on June 21, 2018, through ordinance IMEA 003/2018, the Latin American Gender and Diversity Observatory was created, linked to the Federal University for Latin American Integration (UNILA), as a result of the political activism of the observatory's coordination and the emerging need for more effective integration policies, guidance for diversity programs, in addition to giving voice to numerous agendas and needs regarding gender in the border region.
In this space and time of creation of the observatory, initially, as a way of systematizing actions and identifying the needs of the territory, there was the promotion of investigations by the researchers who became part of the observatory, as a way of establishing a schedule of research and actions that would be implemented in the following years.
The profile of the Observatory's researchers seeks to be diverse, prioritizing the participation of women, including trans people, with their singularities and intersectionalities, at all stages of life, including mothers, foreigners, black people, LGBTQIAPN+ at all levels of the University.
With this, it was created the observatory website and an institutional survey was initiated, integrating government and non-government representatives of the municipality, both for data collection and to promote actions related to gender issues, such as an investigation into gender violence in the municipality. Over the years, this movement has led to the observatory gaining strength, responsibilities, credibility and actions that have resulted in several studies, reports and policies that are underway and will be summarized in the following paragraphs.
2. The Gender Observatory as a research space
Since the first years after its creation, the Latin American Gender and Diversity Observatory has had as one of its main objectives the research and monitoring of gender violence in the territory, as a way of diagnosing and systematizing this data with a view to implementing and promoting public policies of inclusion and protection of gender, race, class and sex.
From the beginning, there has been a concern about the need to talk about, research and combat gender violence, which is one of the biggest obstacles to participatory parity on the part of women, as When they are victims of violence of any kind, lesbian, transgender, white, black, indigenous, poor, middle-class, working-class, student, elderly and young women are discouraged from speaking out and, therefore, from participating equally in public and private spaces.
One of the publications in which one of the main members of the Observatory participates as a researcher, Dr. Cleusa Gomes da Silva (coordinator and founder of the Observatory), who is the organizer and author of one of the chapters, and which is available on the website, is the collection entitled: “Transcultural and transnational perspectives on gender”.
Another important publication on the website is called “For them and for our struggles: equality and justice in the debates on gender and diversity in contemporary societies”, written by Professor and Dr. Renata Peixoto de Oliveira, and Member and current Vice-Coordinator Regiane Cristina Tonatto. Several other publications by the group’s researchers, which currently number 9, were produced on the theme of gender.
Regarding the content of the research led by the Observatory, the main motivating factor behind most of the research is the alarming data on violence against women that occurs every year. This is very worrying data that proves the expression of power relations between men and women through coercion and violence. The data is even more serious for black, native and transgender women, according to the latest national research.
As one of the Observatory's main projects, the Map/Monitoring of Gender Violence in the Triple Border, whose purpose is to support public policies in the region, provide relevant data for the community and strengthen entities, both in the community and at the university, that strive to minimize the problem of violence against women in the triple border.
The relevance of this research lies in the critical need to understand the extent and nature of gender-based violence, with a view to developing more effective strategies to combat this alarming problem. The data collected are essential for formulating more informed policies, providing a solid basis for interventions and improving existing efforts.
Several institutions were contacted as part of the monitoring project. The preliminary data obtained will be presented here, with the first being made available by the following entities: the Center for Analysis, Planning and Statistics (CAPE) and the Women's Assistance Reference Center (CRAM). The time frame defined by the research team covers the period from 2013 to 2023.
However, in order for this research to have the necessary structure and maintenance for the research to continue, funding was necessary. In this sense, a very important partner was the Itaipu Technology Park (PTI), which supported two research scholarships, one for undergraduate and one for master's degrees, through a specific call for proposals, at the end of 2. This step was extremely important, given that until now most of the observatory's actions have been voluntary.
After the scholarship holders began their activities, monitoring began to be carried out based on data provided by local institutions. One of these is the Center for Analysis, Planning and Statistics (CAPE), which is responsible for examining and mapping crime throughout the state of Paraná. This department continuously monitors criminal records in detail, identifying the most vulnerable areas in order to provide information to managers.
Furthermore, it supports the planning of systematic operations and comprehensive Public Security actions, such as the distribution of vehicles and allocation of police personnel, whenever requested (Paraná, 2024).
Another important actor for the systematization of data is the Women's Care Reference Center (CRAM), where we obtained reports for the years 2020 to 2023, since previous records were not digitized. Currently, our team of researchers is manually collecting data from previous years.
Women who face situations of violence are welcomed at CRAM – Women's Assistance Reference Center, where they receive specialized support to overcome these circumstances. The services offered are psychological, social and legal assistance; legal aid; preventive and assistance guidance; coordination with other institutions: facilitating access to formal and non-formal education programs, in addition to means for insertion in the job market (CRAM, 2024).
Based on the nationality data provided by CRAM, regarding services provided by the institution, we have the following: Brazilians who in 2020 the number of services was the highest, with 1131 services, falling to 727 in 2023. Paraguay is the second nationality with the most services, with a peak in 2021 (71 services) and a drop to 37 in 2023. The number of services from Venezuelan women increased significantly in 2022, reaching 21 services, before decreasing slightly to 15 in 2023. This increase may be related to the Venezuelan migratory flow due to the crisis in their country of origin.
Other nationalities have relatively low and stable numbers of visits over the years. For example, Argentina had a slight variation, from 8 visits in 2020 to 14 in 2023. Nationalities such as Bolivia, Colombia, Haiti and Cuba have smaller variations, but do not reach values as significant as Brazil and Paraguay.
Intersectoral Policies and the Observatory
Regarding intersectoral policies, since its foundation the observatory has positioned itself as a partner institution in proposals for better inclusion and protection of women and the LGBTQIAPN+ community, based on inclusive actions and civil society participation in favor of this issue.
Based on this purpose, in 2022 the observatory took office, as a civil society, on the LBGTQIAPN+ committee of the Human Rights Secretariat of Foz do Iguaçu, with the aim of contributing to and strengthening gender and diversity policies in the city. In addition, the Observatory participates in the Encontros Pela Diversidade Network and is one of the organizations responsible for the Women's March in Foz do Iguaçu. Currently, the Observatory is made up of 18 institutions that work together to promote and strengthen gender and diversity policies in the city. These institutions include non-governmental organizations, universities, community groups and other entities committed to defending human rights and promoting equality.
Another important action was the preparation of a Gender and Diversity report for the triple border, presenting official national data from the three countries, as well as from the cities of Foz do Iguaçu, Ciudad del Este and Puerto Iguazú, as a starting point for the need for gender actions for the border.
This report served as a basis for promoting actions to implement the Casa da Mulher Brasileira project, where the observatory is one of the partner institutions in the region for this project. One of the key points that the observatory has sought and achieved with these reports and projects is the implementation of an effective protection network, greater adherence to current legislation regarding the protection and inclusion of women (including trans women) in public and private institutions, in addition to visibility of the research carried out by the educational institutions that are partners of the Observatory.
Final considerations
The border is not only a spatial and historical phenomenon, but a cultural, ideological and economic confrontation in which different subjects are constituted in their ethnic, racial and cultural diversity (MENEGHEL, 2022). It is no coincidence that the term Latin American diversity, carried not only in its name, but in the constitution of the researchers (of various nationalities and Brazilian states), is one of the methodological and practical bases that the institution has sought to recognize and practice over the last few years.
It is expected that through the observatory's base projects, such as mapping violence, as well as participation chairs in various institutional spaces, promote a provocation towards a truly inclusive and representative policy of gender, race and diversity in the triple border region.
Authors:
3. Bibliographic References
- GOV.BR. CRAM – Women’s Assistance Reference Center. Available at: https://www.gov.br/pt-br/servicos-estaduais/cram-centro-de-referencia-de-atendimento-a-mulher. Accessed on: 27 May 2024.
- PARANÁ. Secretariat of Public Security. Center for Analysis, Planning and Statistics. Available at: https://www.seguranca.pr.gov.br/CAPE. Accessed on: 27 May 2024.
- MENEGHEL, Stela Nazareth et al. Feminicides in border municipalities in Brazil. Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, Rio Grande do Sul, v. 27, n. 2, p. 493-502, Feb. 2022. FapUNIFESP (SciELO). Available at: https://www.scielosp.org/article/csc/2022.v27n2/493-502/pt/. Accessed on: 29 jun. 2023.
