Gender Equality in Our Organization

For centuries, the gender gap has been a structural problem present in societies around the world, violating the human rights of girls, adolescents, and adult women. Overcoming these inequalities is an urgent challenge if we are to move toward more just and inclusive societies, where gender equity is a goal to be achieved.

In this context, Te Protejo, in line with the 2030 Agenda promoted by the United Nations (UN), actively works to promote gender equality by raising awareness about the most pressing issues and developing strategic partnerships with expert organizations such as Grow Género y Trabajo, among other organizations in Latin America.

In 2015, the UN General Assembly adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, establishing 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Among them, SDG 5—Gender Equality—recognizes that ensuring equality between women and men is not only a fundamental human right but also an essential condition for building a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world.

According to the most recent data from the UN and UN Women, gender inequalities remain deep-seated and widespread throughout the world. Women spend 2.5 times as many hours as men on unpaid domestic and care work, which limits their economic participation and development opportunities.

Globally, nearly one in five young women (19%) aged 20 to 24 were married before the age of 18, and more than 230 million women and girls have undergone female genital mutilation, with approximately 4 million new cases each year. Only about 56 percent of women aged 15 to 49 have full decision-making power over their sexual and reproductive health. Although there has been progress in representation, women hold a small percentage of leadership positions, such as in political representation and executive roles.

Given this situation, Te Protejo has incorporated efforts to advance this Sustainable Development Goal into its core mission, recognizing that promoting gender equality is essential to building a world that is more just, equitable, and respectful of all people.

We also understand that there is a profound intersection between the forms of oppression that have historically affected women and the dynamics of the exploitation of nature and animals. In this sense, addressing the issues highlighted by feminism not only helps reduce gender inequalities but also allows us to challenge and transform the structures that underpin other forms of injustice, including those associated with ecosystems and other animals.

As an organization, we have implemented campaigns aimed at promoting feminism and raising awareness about women’s historical and current struggles by commemorating significant dates, sharing news, and preparing informational articles. To that end, we have established an internal gender policy within the NGO to promote more equitable environments that are consistent with our institutional values.

In addition, we have incorporated ecofeminism and its intersectional approach—which links the ecological crisis to gender gaps—into our editorial line. Along these same lines, we have strengthened partnerships with organizations committed to this mission, such as Grow Género y Trabajo, with the goal of promoting joint initiatives that contribute to a more just and sustainable social transformation.

Grow Género y Trabajo is a nonprofit social organization whose purpose is to promote inclusive, diverse, and violence-free workplaces. Using a comprehensive and cross-cutting approach, this NGO advises and supports organizations, companies, and governments in Latin America to drive institutional transformations grounded in a gender perspective and focused on social justice.

Among its main areas of focus, it develops strategies aimed at promoting equal opportunities for all people through the implementation and evaluation of diversity and inclusion policies in the workplace. It also offers programs that include organizational assessments, the development of protocols, training sessions, research, and communication strategies, with the goal of improving access to opportunities and promoting workplace well-being.

In this context, Grow Género y Trabajo, together with Te Protejo, are committed to raising awareness in the community about the issues surrounding inequality faced by women and girls in society. By working together, we are able to position ourselves as agents of change, promoting tools and actions that help bring this struggle to light.

It also reaffirms our commitment to equity in all areas of human life and to highlighting the interconnections between women’s rights, the protection of ecosystems, and respect for animals.

“At Grow Género y Trabajo, we believe that sustainable social change is achieved through partnerships. We are very pleased with this partnership with Te Protejo, which allows us to amplify our message and mainstream a gender perspective into other issues. The 2030 Agenda will only be possible if we work together,” says Georgina Sticco, co-founder and co-director of Grow Género y Trabajo.

To learn more about this topic, you can read the article on March 8, which explores various perspectives on gender equity and its connection to other forms of inequality.

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