HIP presents the LILAS FUND to prevent Sexual Violence against children in Latin America.

From April 30th to May 3rd, HIP’s Gender Race & Power Program participated in a gathering of organizations dedicated to political advocacy and access to justice concerning sexual violence against children.

Throughout the convening, organizations from various countries in Europe and Latin America shared their work and the challenges they face, particularly highlighting the difficulties related to access to updated and quality information, the coordination of transnational efforts, and changes in national judicial systems.

Faced with these challenges, the organizations identified strengths and connections between the work they carry out locally and regionally, enabling a broader understanding of existing and possible intersections.

During the meeting, HIP presented initial plans for the initiative of the LILAS Fund (Leaders for Childhoods Free of Sexual Violence) which aims to strengthen grassroots organizations in Latin America that seek to end sexual violence against children and adolescents; survivor groups and other relevant initiatives that promote solutions and actions with a focus on accountability and the end of impunity. Through this fund, we will be mobilizing more than 1.5 million dollars towards grassroots organizations. The resources will be used to facilitate collaborative learning spaces and create networks between partner organizations to contribute to organizational sustainability. This initiative involves providing flexible, multi-year financing to between 15 and 20 organizations in Latin America.  

The meeting space with expert organizations allowed us to better understand the existing initiatives, current interventions, and the added value that the LILAS Fund has as a proposal that puts grassroots organizations and survivors at the center of the strategies.