Women Defending Women

Website With the economic and social instability caused by COVID-19 across the region, the incidence of gender-based violence (GBV) is growing while resources to support survivors are diminishing. At the IAF, we support community-led approaches to civic engagement and human rights.

Our grantee partner Asociacin Civil Colectivo para la Participacin de la Infancia y Juventud (COPIJ) will form community groups to provide women psychosocial and legal accompaniment in two departments of eastern Guatemala.

COPIJ will comprehensively address the factors that keep women from seeking legal recourse against violent family members and improve women?s access to public services.

This will increase the likelihood that women will report GBV to law enforcement and receive support and accompaniment from their community and public institutions.

This grant is part of the IAF?s Women Investing in Growth and Security (WINGS) initiative to empower women as business and community leaders and part of the IAF?s efforts to address the root causes of irregular migration in Central America.

AmendmentFY24 This amendment provides COPIJ with an additional three years and $378,000 to continue addressing high levels of gender-based violence by increasing women?s access to justice and support services, economic and financial resources, and leadership opportunities within their communities so they can be better equipped to create a life free of violence.

As part of the amendment, COPIJ is mobilizing an additional $341,454 in counterpart resources to the grant agreement.