CFEMEA: Keeping Feminists Tapped into National Politics

Founded in 1989, the Centro Feminista de Estudos e Assessoria (Center for Feminist Studies and Advisory Services—CFEMEA) is one of the few feminist organizations in Brazil'’s capital, Brasilia, and therefore plays a key role in connecting the nation’s political center with sexual and reproductive rights and health movements in the rest of the country. CFEMEA tracks all legislative activity related to women and reproductive and sexual health, monitors the government's budget and expenditure processes, educates policymakers about gender and women's rights, and informs feminist organizations on key legislation and policy developments.

In 2000, CFEMEA's campaign to raise awareness of maternal mortality in Brazil led to the establishment of a parliamentary commission to investigate the issue. CFEMEA is a member of several feminist networks including the Brazilian Initiative for the Right to Legal and Safe Abortion (Jornadas Brasileiras pelo Direito ao Aborto Legal e Seguro)    and National Feminist Network for Reproductive Health and Rights (Rede Saúde)   and works closely with other organizations like Catholics for the Right to Decide-Brazil (Catolicas pelo Direito de Decidir–Brasil), all IWHC partners.

In 2009, CFEMEA will celebrate its twentieth anniversary. IWHC is supporting CFEMEA to conduct a comprehensive review of their two decades of work and document their advances in the field of sexual and reproductive rights. IWHC has supported CFEMEA since 1995.

Visit CFEMEA's website>>

Page last updated 5/1/08.