Pact for the Safety and Rights of Women: CEDAW and Istanbul

In Portugal, the CEDAW and Istanbul Conventions protect women’s rights and aim to end gender-based violence and achieve gender equality, but they remain little known among institutions, CSOs and the public. A lack of understanding of these instruments limits their implementation and prevent new initiatives. This project aimed to spread awareness of these instruments to civil society, as well as equip organization with tools to use them. Akto began by collecting data regarding the implementation of the CEDAW and Istanbul Convention recommendations in the municipal agendas of Coimbra region. They also produced a five-episode podcast, ran an advocacy campaign, and even joined the Portuguese delegation at the UN Commission on the Status of Women. The project was concluded with a focus group with seven municipalities, and with the release and dissemination of a booklet with recommendations to improve equality policies to all 19 municipalities of Coimbra region.