Nicaraguan Young women`s organizations participated in a workshop about the requirements and procedures to obtain the Legal Status in Nicaragua.

Fondo Centroamericano de Mujeres - FCAM, as part of its effort to contribute to the strengthening process of women's organizations in Nicaragua and Central America, implemented, in late 2009, a process to support Nicaraguan grantee on issues related to legal status for NGOs. The project "Empowering women's groups and organizations to strengthen the civil society in Nicaragua" is supported by the European Commission through the European instrument for the promotion of democracy and human rights.  

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 Why and for whom?

This project forms part of FCAM`s overarching objective: Contribute to strengthen the women’s movement in Nicaragua, with a particular emphasis on young women’s organizations, that struggle everyday for the promotion and defense of their human rights through local and national initiatives, networking with other groups and identifying the issues that affect them and the best ways to change their reality by themselves. These efforts are often constrained by the lack of legal status, since this is a requirement for accessing institutional funding, or because it is vital to get formal recognition in decision-making arenas.

In addition, this process provided important and useful tools to the participants that will help them strengthen their organizations, regardless of their final decision to get or not the legal status.

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How?

FCAM identified the need to provide grantee partners with knowledge regarding legal status, especially the implications, challenges, benefits and responsibilities for civil society organizations. We counted with a team of experts in the subject, that developed two training modules with representatives of 21 organizations, a process of theoretical training on: human resources, legal basis for the NGOs’ establishment and legalization, accounting and administration, among others. Also, the groups had the opportunities to practice the application of the knowledge obtained formulating their organizational mission, vision and goals.

In the following stage of this process, FCAM and the team of experts reviewed the case of each counterpart, selecting seven organizations that confirmed their interest in obtaining legal status and have all the requirements, those which performance, organizational structure, experience and actions could be considered ready for the challenge.

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The process continues

Currently, the seven groups signed their foundational documents prepared, and the legal advisers have begun the process of applying for their legal status. The groups whose legalization process is underway are:

1. Jóvenes Luchadoras - Bluefields
2. Red de Mujeres Jóvenes - Puerto Cabezas
3. Mujeres de Amerrisque - Juigalpa
4. Movimiento de Mujeres por Nuestros Derechos Humanos “MOMUNDH” - Villa El Carmen, Managua
5. Red de mujeres jóvenes “La Red Joven” -Malpaisillo
6. Red de adolescentes y jóvenes promotoras de género
7. Grupo de Mujeres Jóvenes Ex Trabajadoras Sexuales “Las Golondrinas” – Matagalpa

The groups review:

"The assessment is very positive, both in a personal and organizational - professional level, the information received opens the opportunities for our organizations and clarifies the legal commitments we’re going to acquire ... the tools provided gave us an overview of the organizations’ needs".

"It was an opportunity for the group to finally determine its mission, vision, objectives and values in some cases”.

The groups that joined us in this activity were:

1. Red de Mujeres Jóvenes “La Esperanza” Rivas;
2. Red de Mujeres Jóvenes para los Derechos Humanos en Carazo;
3. Gaviotas Jóvenes Por Nuestros Derechos;
4. Grupo de Teatro Hijas de la Luna;
5. Espacio Feminista de Mujeres Jóvenes;
6. Intipachamama;
7. Mujeres de Amerrisque;
8. Grupo Feminista de León;
9. Grupo de Jovenes ITZAM/ Casa de la Mujer de Bocana de Paiwas;
10. Red de Mujeres Adolescentes y Jóvenes Bilwi;
11. Club de Mujeres 25 de Noviembre;
12. Grupo de Teatro Nueva Generación;
13. Red de Mujeres Jóvenes / La Redjoven;
14. Grupo de Mujeres Ex-trabajadoras Sexuales “Las Golondrinas”;
15. Grupo SAFO;
16. Grupo Lésbico Artemisa;
17. Jóvenes Luchadoras;
18. Red de Mujeres Adolescentes y Jóvenes Promotoras de Género;
19. Movimiento de Mujeres por Nuestros Derechos Humanos (MOMUNDH);
20. Movimiento Lidia Espinosa y
21. Mujeres Ticuantepecas

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