Cesip

Cesip , Centro de Estudios Sociales y Publicaciones (Center for Social Studies and Publications) was founded in 1976, and has since contributed to the practice and consolidation of democracy in Peru. Our standpoint is the strengthening of civil society through the development of capabilities in areas such as social leadership and management, and advocacy of civil rights of women, children, and youth.

Our mission is to contribute to the development of citizenship with equity, an indispensable condition for the existence of a sustainable and participative democracy based on the respect for human rights and the establishment of effective mechanisms to ensure their full observance. To the effect that effective citizenship implies developing capabilities and the participation of all the people in the social and political affairs of their country, CESIP focuses its efforts on encouraging the autonomy and empowerment of women, children, and youth; population sectors which have been traditionally excluded due to gender, age, and social disadvantage.

CESIP promotes processes and spaces in which social actors can interact and cooperate in the formulation and implementation of development proposals with social equity, gender, and generational outlooks, on the local, regional, and national levels. Our standpoint translates into direct involvement with the affected population, civil society organizations, and public agencies.

CESIP is an active member of various task forces, networks, and consortiums, such as GIN (Children’s Rights Initiative Group), the Global March against Child Labor, the International Baby Food Action Network, BICE (Latin American Network against Child Abuse), REPEM (Network for Women’s Education), the Latin American and Caribbean Women’s Health Network. In these organizations, CESIP is perceived as a keynote member in relation to advocacy of the rights of women and children.

To accomplish institutional objectives, CESIP directs its efforts through two major Programs:

GENDER EQUITY AND WOMEN’S CIVIL RIGHTS PROGRAM
Intervention focuses on the elimination of social, institutional, and personal barriers that hamper full exercise of women’s civil rights and restrict their participation in decision-making. Institutional actions also promote an institutional environment favorable to the implementation of gender-equity policy and affirmative action to this end. Furthermore, the program seeks to evidence gender inequities affecting women, encourage experiences in women’s leadership and participation in the social and political fields, and to promote the incorporation of gender equity in public policy at the local, regional, and national levels.

Domestic laborers’ rights: Development of working capabilities; fostering peer association and personal development in this group of women. Promotion of a favorable institutional environment in relation to civil and labor rights; monitoring of compliance with pertinent laws and regulations.

Adult women’s sexual and reproductive rights: Development of women’s capabilities and their association in autonomous groups and networks; due access to information; monitoring of public health policy and facilities; promotion of a social and institutional environment favorable to the exercise of sexual and reproductive rights.

Gender equity in public policy and women’s social and political participation: development of women’s capabilities, promotion of spaces and mechanisms for interaction among women. Monitoring and influencing public policy in relation to gender equity and women’s participation in society and politics. Consciousness raising and training activities aimed at government officials.

CHILDREN’S RIGHTS ADVOCACY AND PROTECTION PROGRAM
Efforts are dedicated to the progressive suppression of social exclusion factors and socio-cultural barriers that obstruct the full development of children and adolescents and hamper the exercise of their rights. Actions are directed towards raising consciousness of problems affecting boy and girl children and teenagers; encouraging both government and civil society to promote their development as citizens; influencing public policy to promote their rights.

Areas of concern are child abuse and sexual abuse of boy and girl children and adolescents, child labor (especially in its worst forms), sexual and reproductive rights for adolescents, teenage pregnancy, breast feeding, local protection systems, compliance with national and international regulations and standards in relation to children’s and adolescents’ rights.

Child labor and children’s rights: promotion of access to public schooling for working children and teens, permanence and academic success in the school environment. Actions aimed at families and schools to develop their protection capabilities in relation to working youngsters. Prevention of premature labor, protection and progressive removal of boys and girls from dangerous work, with special attention to domestic labor. Coaching in entrepreneurial capabilities for working teenagers; development of municipal protection and promotion programs.

Sexual and reproductive rights of adolescents: interventions are aimed at promotion of teenager’s access to information and public facilities; prevention of teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. Empowerment of adolescent girls and boys; promotion of family and institutional environments favorable to exercise of teenager’s rights.

Protection of girls and boys and prevention of child abuse and sexual abuse. Promotion of a nurturing, non-violent child-rearing culture. Encouragement of prevention and care through local community networks; institutional coaching and empowerment to this end. Training of family members, teachers, and school officials to develop protection capabilities; promotion of access to self-care information and strategies for boys and girls.

There are other areas which are of special concern to CESIP. In some cases, we lead initiatives in these areas, while in others we support actions by other organizations.

Labor rights related to maternity and breastfeeding

Monitoring of breast milk substitute commercial practices

The right to quality education, without exclusion of any kind

Sexual education for girls and boys

The right to a violence-free life

In accordance with the institutional programs, CESIP carries out concrete interventions in the following fields:

Monitoring and initiatives for accountable and participative governmental practices, with sensitivity towards citizen demands, including gender issues.

Building capabilities in government officials and civil society organizations to promote democratic, accountable, and gender-equity governmental practices on the local and regional levels.

Promoting the incorporation of children’s rights advocacy and quality education for working youngsters and those in risk situations in public schools.

Encouraging nurturing and non-violent child rearing practices and promotion of community agencies for advocacy of children’s rights.

Strengthening local networks for the prevention and treatment of sexual violence against children and adolescents.

Generating favorable conditions for the exercise of children’s rights for youngsters involved in domestic labor, through consciousness raising, building capabilities, and access to protection facilities.

Prevention of child labor, especially in its worst forms, promotion of the basic rights of working children and teens, development of capabilities with key government officials and civil society organizations to contribute to the suppression of child labor.

Prevention of risk situations and development of opportunities and capabilities for self-care with children and teenagers working in the street.

Strengthening the economies of poor families to reduce dangerous child labor.

Promoting the exercise of rights and responsibilities of adolescents in relation to their sexual and reproductive health.

Developing capabilities of leaders of women’s grassroots organizations for monitoring and participation in improved conditions in co-management of government aid programs in poor urban areas.

Fostering monitoring of observance of sexual and reproductive rights in local health facilities by leaders of women’s organizations.

Encouraging active and informed participation of women in elections of public officials.

Promotion of service facilities for adult women engaged in domestic labor.

Cesip Centro de Estudios Sociales y Publicaciones
Coronel Zegarra 722, Jesús María, Lima 11 Perú