The gap between international and local activism must be overcome through working partnerships that bridge across national borders and disciplines in all phases of a project. While often difficult and time-consuming, such collaboration is nevertheless essential to confront the global and local forces that keep so many people around the world poor and disenfranchised.
CESR-Frente Workshop held in Lago Agrio, Ecuador, 1994
Economic and social rights are usually never granted by well-meaning governments—they must be fought for and claimed by affected communities and civil society at large. Activism at the international level has only a limited impact without sustained domestic pressure to compel local leaders to change laws and policies.
To have an impact at both the international and local levels, CESR's collaborations ensure that local groups and activists play an integral role in projects. This partnership builds trust and links affected communities with a broader set of globlal activists. Local participation also helps project partners strengthen their own human rights capacity, enabling CESR to make the most effective use of its limited resources.
CESR generally works with local groups at the outset to design projects and to carry out joint research. Our advocacy and education efforts also rely on partnering with affected communities in public decision-making processes.
"Unlike most international organizations, CESR’s workshops and materials have made a concrete impact in our local communities by strengthening our efforts to link human rights with everyday concerns of women and their families in Gaza."-- Marwa Qassem, Mashriqiyat.