Fatherhood, care and reproductive rights
Location
The purpose of this proposal is to contribute to the revision and expansion of public policies in the field of Reproductive Rights, promoting greater participation of men in child care and other reproductive processes. The thematic focus is the extension of paternity leave as a strategy to foster debate on fatherhood. During the next few years we will work to defend the right to parental leave as a right of children, regardless of the caregiver´s gender. This initiative has been developed as an action in partnership with the Network of Women for Gender Equity - RHEG. These actions fall within the core of the broader campaign entitled "Fatherhood: desire, duty and commitment." This project is characterized primarily as an act of advocacy. One of the activities is to identify and map the main allies / opponents at all levels (executive, legislative, judiciary, civil society organizations, networks, etc.). And thus elect a locus of activity, articulating relevant strategies. We intend to develop an effective approach to raise awareness among partners and opponents, according to the strategies formulated. Attention will turned to the construction of a network project based on the mapping and partnerships held during those years. One of the actions that we have developed is the campaign Excuse me, I am a father! with the following objectives: 1. Encourage men to exercise their right to care, asking for Paternity Leave for the birth or adoption of a child 2. Promoting public mobilization in support of extending the period of 5 days for at least 30 days.
Sobre você
Sobre você
Primeiro nome
Jorge
Sobrenome
Lyra
Página na internet
Organização
Papai Institute
País
Brazil, PE
Você tem entre 18 e 35 anos e gostaria de se inscrever para um programa internacional de nove meses de duração - Programa jovens líderes - com mentoria de um empreendedor social da Ashoka?
Não
Sobre sua organização
Nome da organização
Papai Institute
Página da organização na internet
Telefone da organização
(55) (81) 32714804
Endereço da organização
Rua Mardonio de A. Nascimento, 119 Várzea Recife-PE
País da organização
Brazil, PE
Sua ideia
Name Your Project
Fatherhood, care and reproductive rights
País onde se dará o foco de atuação
Brazil
Describe Your Idea
The purpose of this proposal is to contribute to the revision and expansion of public policies in the field of Reproductive Rights, promoting greater participation of men in child care and other reproductive processes. The thematic focus is the extension of paternity leave as a strategy to foster debate on fatherhood. During the next few years we will work to defend the right to parental leave as a right of children, regardless of the caregiver´s gender. This initiative has been developed as an action in partnership with the Network of Women for Gender Equity - RHEG. These actions fall within the core of the broader campaign entitled "Fatherhood: desire, duty and commitment." This project is characterized primarily as an act of advocacy. One of the activities is to identify and map the main allies / opponents at all levels (executive, legislative, judiciary, civil society organizations, networks, etc.). And thus elect a locus of activity, articulating relevant strategies. We intend to develop an effective approach to raise awareness among partners and opponents, according to the strategies formulated. Attention will turned to the construction of a network project based on the mapping and partnerships held during those years. One of the actions that we have developed is the campaign Excuse me, I am a father! with the following objectives: 1. Encourage men to exercise their right to care, asking for Paternity Leave for the birth or adoption of a child 2. Promoting public mobilization in support of extending the period of 5 days for at least 30 days.
Página na internet
Inovação
Por que a ideia é única e qual o diferencial em relação aos demais projetos do mesmo campo de atuação?
Working with focus on the male population, particularly with those young men who become parents, through the eyes of gender rights is still rare in many parts of the world. In recent years we find specific experiences, but mainly for research, and rarely find a proposal for social action aimed at this population, and even fewer that have focused on both direct action with young parents as well as influence in public policies related to reproductive rights.
A sua inovação é patenteada?
Não
Impacto
This Entry is about (Issues)
Quais foram os impactos obtidos até o momento?
I think the main impact we can emphasize at this time is the repercussions of the proposed campaign to expand the paternity leave, as we are discovering that our arguments have helped draft some laws and regulations regarding the extension of paternity leave in states and municipalities (Ex: Pará, Pernambuco, Joao Pessoa, Sao Jose do Rio Preto / SP, etc.), the implementation of proposals for Companies (Ex: Fundação Carlos Chagas, Caixa Economica Federal, etc..) and in campaigns in other countries, for example in Spain. We are starting a process of systematization of these initiatives. In addition, a large impact is in the communication campaign itself, since we located in ‘Google”´s search engine the record of at least 14 thousand links with the words "Excuse me, I am a father" campaign slogan in 2008 -- 2010. We developed a series of communication materials for the dissemination of the campaign (eg TV vignette, spot radio, posters, leaflets and T-shirts), and community action with men of different ages and dialogue with partners (eg press conference public hearing on the prosecutors, the Legislative Assembly of Pernambuco, seminars with trade unions and others).
Problema
Every child has the right to be cared after. Towards an extension of the leave, regardless of the caregiver´s gender. For almost four decades, women have been demanding and gaining recognition and legitimacy in the public sphere, before intended exclusively for men in a society historically and culturally marked by male domination. Indeed, the social changes inaugurated by feminism go beyond the limits of the body and life of women enrolling in institutions as well (especially the family and the labor market) and in male narratives. However, unfortunately, it seems that we still have in our hearts and minds a strong symbolic dichotomy between male-production and female-reproduction.
This tension is expressed quite clearly in the texts of news stories disseminated by different media due to the fact that, finally, President Lula has in its hands the opportunity to sign a bill of law to expand maternity leave in our country, from 120 to 180 days, including adoptive mothers.
Ações
As previously mentioned, to reach this project´s goal, PAPAI Institute has developed strategies for advocacy. This initiative has been developed in partnership with the Network of Women for Gender Equity - RHEG.
Advocacy - in order to broaden discussions in the defense of citizen´s rights, advocacy actions for the 2008-2010 period - right to paternity leave and the importance of increasing the period in Brazilian legal system. That is, the defense of the right to parental leave, for example, as a right of children, regardless of the caregiver´s gender. These actions fall within the core of the broader campaign entitled "Fatherhood: desire, duty and commitment." This project is characterized primarily as an act of advocacy. One of the activities is to identify and map the main allies / opponents at all levels (executive, legislative, judiciary, civil society organizations, networks, etc.). And thus elect a locus of activity, articulating relevant strategies. We intend to develop an effective approach to raise awareness among partners and opponents, according to the strategies formulated. 2) holding a public hearing to discuss the extension of the deadline for Paternity Leave and 3) community action - a body of Recife, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Florianopolis and Porto Alegre to promote the dissemination of information on paternity leave, 4) communication products such as campaign alluding to Parenthood with the motto "Excuse me, I'm a Dad!" - radio spots, videotapes, pamphlets and posters in order to inform society, especially workers on their rights and claim the extension of parental leave for fathers in Brazil.
Resultados
With regard to the axis of advocacy, the public hearing was held (in 2008) in partnership with the Public Prosecutor of Pernambuco, and was attended by approximately 40 people, including representatives of the Government and civil society groups debating the issue of the expansion of Paternity Leave. As for the communication materials, these were produced and distributed in Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Florianopolis and Porto Alegre, integrating the community services provided by partner organizations as a strategy to disseminate the subject within the communities. In Recife and the metropolitan area, campaign posters "Excuse me, I'm a Dad!" circulated during the month of August on 1.500 buses, reaching thousands of users of public transportation. In addition, the campaign had the support of the Central Workers Union, which has distributed promotional material in CUT trade unions and the Federation of Agricultural Workers of Pernambuco, reaching the rural areas, and provided information on their institutional websites.
O que é essencial para que sua inovação seja bem sucedida nos próximos 3 anos?
We believe that focusing efforts in the search for definition of ‘healthier lifestyles or ‘more positive male types’ is not enough, because such a strategy personalizes and individualizes the commitment to change, leaving aside the broader debate on the functioning of institutions. It will be necessary then toto review the models of male socialization and institutionalized practices (especially those in health, education and law) that value, encourage, feed this sexist and macho array that excludes and/or limits the opportunities to exercise care towards others and parenthood. Given the organization of social life on the basis of gender inequality, it is necessary to think that only specific affirmative action policies for greater participation by men in household activities do not solve the problem as parents continue to work longer hours than mothers in paid jobs. That is, while the company is governed by the principle of division of labor by gender, we will continue to have barriers for men and women to take more or less public and private activities in line with their individual guidelines. Transforming men requires much more time and intellectual energy that simply involving them in programs of reproductive health or family planning. In this sense, it will require the execution of an agenda for research, reflection and, above all, coordination of policy linked to a conceptual and theoretical thinking on gender, in association with the major economic issues. Thus, the participation of men in domestic life and reproductive health depends on the review in cultural practices and ideological, institutional and of individual men and women. It is, therefore, about building and implementing public policies involving several sectors (Health, Education, Labor, Justice, Security, Social Services etc.) which promote gender equity through inclusive participation and involvement of men in the exercise of parenting and care for others in general.
Qual(is) seria(m) os obstáculos para a sua inovação?
Working for the formulation and implementation of gender equity public policies from the feminist perspective, which promote greater involvement of men in child care and other reproductive processes is a complex task. By choosing the theme of paternity leave, for example, we are faced with several groups of interest and articulated agendas that urged us to perform a complete mapping of potential allies and opponents. Initially concerned with issues related to sexual and reproductive rights, we faced an opponent whose strength will require efforts from various sectors of society - not just academia and civil society - to promote their awareness of the issue: private companies. We observed that the guarantee of rights such as Paternity Leave is directly linked to the way in which contemporary society operates that is structured and moves according to the work and the production of wealth. Thus, it is possible to say that the economic model, especially that which is practiced in Brazil, interferes so powerfully and in such a more negative way for the achievement of rights and freedoms of citizens. However, it is important to say that the way in which the campaign on paternity leave reverberated in the media, that the exercise of parenthood and sharing the care after children is a current issue, both controversial and provocative. In other words, we observed that a field of debate is set on possible actions that involve different sectors and actors in public policy formulation.
Quantas pessoas, por ano, são beneficiadas pelo sua inovação?
Mais de 10,000
Qual é a renda familiar média da comunidade que a sua inovação beneficia, em U$?
$50 - 100
A sua inovação influencia políticas públicas?
Sim
Sustentabilidade
Em que fase está a sua inovação?
Em execução entre 1-5 anos
Sua organização é
OSC/ONG
Sua inovação/iniciativa está vinculada a uma organização estabelecida?
Sim
Se "Sim", nome da organização
Instituto Papai
Há quanto tempo foi fundada a sua organização?
Há mais de 5 anos
Sua organização possui Diretoria ou Conselho Consultivo?
Sim
Sua organização possui alguma parceria não financeira com organizações sociais?
Sim
Sua organização possui alguma parceria não financeira com empresas?
Sim
Sua organização possui alguma parceria não financeira com o governo?
Sim
Conte-nos mais por que as parcerias acima são essenciais para a execução ou desenvolvimento da sua inovação
We found that these partnerships are important because the theme permeates and involves different actors in the field (eg business, governments, general public etc.) to the extent that we are talking about thoughts and actions related to the plan of values and in particular a labor right that affects children rights. So, only from a major political articulation with these different actors will our proposal be more effective.
Quais são as três ações mais relevantes e necessárias para o crescimento da sua inovação ou organização?
The main action is the wider campaign "Fatherhood: desire, duty and commitment" that unfolds in a series of activities. This campaign aims to promote critical thinking and policy on the exercise of paternity in the field of reproductive rights, from three dimensions: desire, duty and commitment. After all, people have the right to choose whether or not to have children. They have the right also to say how many children they want, and when they want to have them. This means that parenting is a right of every citizen. Being a parent is also a commitment, to the extent that every child has the right to have the recognition, support and affection of his/her father.
In general, we intended to:
- promote positive images and messages associated with the exercise of parenting over the year, particularly between the months of July and September, through actions by local and national media. This publicity is intended to promote reflection and debate on the value of "care practice" today, and encourage male participation in child care;
- inform the public about the rights of parents and children regarding the recognition and exercise of parenthood. Special emphasis is given to the importance of these discussions in terms of citizenship and the construction of spaces for dialogue and negotiation in public settings (nurseries, pre-schools etc.) and in domestic and family spaces.
A história
Em que momento decidiu criar/liderar esta inovação? Conte-nos a sua história
PAPAI Institute a feminist non-governmental organization, based in Recife, northeastern Brazil, which develops educational, informative and advocacy policies with men in poverty, as well as studies and research on masculinity, from a feminist and gender perspective.
Brief history
We believe that the institutionalization of the Institute is the result of the achievements of social movements that have settled historically from the 1960s, particularly women and feminist movements and those in defense of sexual rights, especially gay and lesbian. These movements demanded a revision of values, cultural norms and institutional processes, resulting in a crisis on the order of gender and sexuality and the need to deconstruct sexism.
This perspective became visible during the Fourth International Conference on Population and Development held in 1994 in Cairo, and during the Fourth World Conference on Women held in 1995 in Beijing. In both forums, it was stated as a guideline to search for greater youth participation and the promotion of male sexual and reproductive rights.
Our institution was founded in January 1997. At the time, the main initiative was the Program of Support for Adolescent and Young Father, whose political and conceptual matrix was the intersection of gender and age. From this, we proposed reflections on the invisibility of male experience in the context of reproductive and child care.
This initiative, pioneered in Latin America, was based on the model of academic centers for female studies and gender relations, which were structured in Brazil especially in the 1980s at the interface between the academic production of gender and feminist activism.
Today, different fields of knowledge argue that men's involvement in the context of reproductive health / overall health can help to create better living conditions for men, women and children.
However, in our view, participation and involvement of men is not enough. A critical view is necessary, in light of feminism, on the institutionalization processes that are built from (and build) gender inequality.
Conte-nos a biografia do(a) inovador(a) social que criou ou lidera esta inovação
My concern with fatherhood began in the final year of my undergraduate course in psychology at the Federal University of Pernambuco in 1993, during which I interned in the field of Child Psychotherapy and treated children of teenage parents. During the interviews with parents (at the time already adults) it caught my attention that the level of misinformation, tensions and conflicts were so high when it came to issues of gender relations, reproductive rights, sexuality and childcare. In 1994, I undertook my first research on the theme: an exploratory study on the experience of parenthood and its implications for the identity of young parents. This work allowed to seize some of their experiences, especially the feelings they were having at the moment of being parents, and what strategies to (re)organize their life histories (family, work, study and projects) were being discovered by them. I took this issue to the master's degree in Social Psychology at the Catholic University of São Paulo, where I’m studying since 1995 under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Fulvia Rosemberg. These experiences and reflections led me to prepare and develop a project of direct action for young parents, supported by the Training Project of the MacArthur Foundation, which lasted 2 years. This experience has put into practice a working model aimed directly at this population, a pioneering experience in Brazil. I was awarded a fellowship by Ashoka during the years 2001 to 2003 by which I widened the actions in this sector and continue to coordinate the activities of the Institute for 13 years, developing several different proposals for action in search of a more just and equitable society.
Como soube do Changemakers?
Contato pessoal do Changemakers/Ashoka
Se for de alguma outra fonte de informação, por favor, mencione o nome da organização ou da pessoa que indicou o Changemakers
 | AmaKa said: I usually love an idea that means more men get involved in childcare but for this.....advocating for public policy to increase their ... about this Competition Entry. - 652 days ago read more > |
| Naveen Shakir said: On April 15, 2010 the judges reviewed the entries for the Changemakers "Healthy Mothers, Strong World" competition and would like to ... about this Competition Entry. - 652 days ago read more > |
| jorgelyra submitted this idea. - 689 days ago |
