Global Reach: Grantee Partners

Centro de Promoción y Defensa de los Derechos Sexuales y Reproductivos (PROMSEX)

Context:

Over the last decade, Peru's fast-growing economy was fueled by high prices in the mining, oil, and gas sectors. As gold prices climbed, illegal alluvial gold mining expanded into Madre de Dios, the region where PROMSEX is- and plans to continue- implementing its work. Located in the Amazon region in southeastern Peru, Madre de Dios has a population of 140,000 people that is predominantly young. The expansion of informal and illegal activities associated with gold mining, coupled with the influx of a large number of internal migrants from the Peruvian highlands and a weak presence by State institutions, created an environment that is favorable for violence. 

Madre de Dios is one of the regions most affected by violence, against women in Peru, with adolescent girls being disproportionately impacted. According to a PROMSEX report, four out of every five allegations of rape are made by girls under the age of 18. PROMSEX also notes that physical violence is often absent in cases of rape of underage women, that rape is usually carried out by a single perpetrator who is often known to the victim, and the victims under 18 tend to suffer several aggressions before reporting to local authorities. Most young people in Madre de Dios do not know their rights and are not familiar with the health and legal resources that are available to them. In addition, community members-including the victims' own family members- are not aware of the existing legal framework to prevent and combat violence against women. PROMSEX seeks to work with each of these stakeholders to change this reality. 

Organization:

Founded in 2005, PROMSEX is a leading player in the field of sexual and reproductive health and rights in Peru and Latin America. Through advocacy and community programming, the organization has played a key role in advancing comprehensive sexuality education in Peru, expanding knowledge about sexual and reproductive health and rights, reducing gender-based violence, and increasing gender equality. PROMSEX is a member of several regional and international networks, such as the Latin American Consortium for Emergency Contraception, the Latin American Consortium against Unsafe Abortion, and the Latin American and Caribbean Women's Health Network. 

Current Grant:

EMpower's fifth grant to PROMSEX will support the continued implementation and enhancement of an initiative to prevent sexual and gender-based violence among young people in Madre de Dios, Peru. The grant will help strengthen the capacity of local state authorities, teachers, grassroots community organizations, and young people to identify, mitigate, and prevent sex and gender-based violence (as part of PROMSEX’s multipronged strategy to raise awareness about and implementation of Peru's National Guidelines for the Care of Victims of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence), and is expected to impact 1,250 youth aged 10-24 (850 female and 400 male).

Primary Location: Madre de Dios

Website: http://www.promsex.org

Funded Since: 2015