The gap between international and localactivism must be overcome through working partnerships that bridgeacross national borders and disciplines in all phases of a project.While often difficult and time-consuming, such collaboration isnevertheless essential to confront the global and local forces thatkeep 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-meaninggovernments???they must be fought for and claimed by affected communitiesand civil society at large. Activism at the international level hasonly a limited impact without sustained domestic pressure to compellocal leaders to change laws and policies.
To have an impact at both the international and local levels, CESR'scollaborations ensure that local groups and activists play an integralrole in projects. This partnership builds trust and links affectedcommunities with a broader set of globlal activists. Localparticipation also helps project partners strengthen their own humanrights capacity, enabling CESR to make the most effective use of its limited resources.
CESR generally works with local groups at theoutset to design projects and to carry out joint research. Our advocacyand education efforts also rely on partnering with affected communitiesin public decision-making processes.
"Unlike most international organizations, CESR???sworkshops and materials have made a concrete impact in our localcommunities by strengthening our efforts to link human rights witheveryday concerns of women and their families in Gaza."-- Marwa Qassem, Mashriqiyat.