Equality, participation and transformation
Elhuyar | Zerbitzuak
Taking into account the trends and needs of society, we facilitate processes to promote equality, participation and social transformation in public institutions and private entities. We offer advice and technical support to advance equality between women and men. We also promote citizen participation processes and innovative social transformation projects.
Equality
Equality plans are not an objective in themselves, but a tool to help advance equality between women and men. Therefore, we evaluate the degree of compliance and the impact of these plans to identify progress and possible resistance, and to draw conclusions. In parallel, we also make equality diagnoses, taking into account not only the data but also the experiences and situations of many women, for which we integrate their voices in the processes. Finally, based on the observation and listening exercises carried out, we design equality plans adapted to each reality. In short, we offer help throughout the process of developing equality plans: reality observation, planning, intervention and evaluation.
Entities with more than 50 people and those financed with public money are obliged to draw up equality plans. Through these plans, we focus on two areas: on the one hand, on the internal analysis of the organization (composition by sex, glass ceiling, areas where women and men work, working conditions, wage gap, work culture, co-responsible conciliation and sexual harassment), and on the other hand, on the analysis of the organization's activity, in order to detect possible impacts on equality and identify the changes needed to incorporate the gender perspective into its activity.
EXAMPLES:
Women's houses can be, among other things, a space where women can be quiet or where they can meet to know, learn or organize collective action. We facilitate the participatory processes for the creation of women's houses: for what and for whom the houses will be, what management models they will have, etc., as well as to concretize the aspects considered necessary and to build networks among women. The pillars on which women's houses are based are women and the feminist movements of the various municipalities; therefore, it is essential that the processes facilitate bottom-up construction work, always counting on women, positively impacting their empowerment process and strengthening their networks.
EXAMPLES:
Basque and equality have come a long way, but so far they have always been parallel paths. However, several experts and agents began some years ago to analyze how both areas relate and a process was launched to bring together and relate the contributions made in them. Elhuyar wants to help explore and deepen this new territory with the conviction that it will be beneficial for both Basque and equality. How does gender affect language practices? And how does language influence gender building? We collaborate in the design and development of projects to integrate the two perspectives in the processes of analysis and intervention.
Although there is much talk about gender mainstreaming, most public institutions still have almost everything to do. Gender mainstreaming means shared responsibility, that is, that all departments outside of equality take responsibility for promoting equality. Gender mainstreaming means being aware that public policies are not neutral, as they positively or negatively affect equality between women and men. And in order to develop the gender mainstreaming strategy, political commitment, technical training, the involvement of all departments, cultural change based on collaboration and provision of resources are essential. The challenge is of great importance: it requires flexibility, imagination and learning from what has already been done. We can accompany you in achieving that challenge.
Participation and social transformation
We design and develop processes based on citizen participation in any area of work (education, culture, youth, seniors, environment, diversity...): diagnostics, plans, interventions... Participation, for us, is not limited to the mere dissemination of information and to the request for opinions; we believe that real participation is what arises from the knowledge of the situation and the shared analysis and work, from the construction of something among all. We believe that it is necessary to create objective and subjective conditions to change the current reality and that the way to achieve it is part of the work process itself.
We design and channel shared reflections on collective decisions that should be made by any type of subject, whether public or private, social or other. We propose custom designed methodologies.
To improve the functioning of organizations and working groups from different fields (schools, public administration, cultural entities, etc. ), analyze the relationships and dynamics between its members, know the vision and motivations of the work, and design and channel processes of creation of organizations or structures that put people in the center.
We promote projects that benefit society: promoting Basque and coexistence between different languages; trying to put community life and political culture at the service of public policies; promoting new models of governance; encouraging social agents to become active subjects; establishing working methods based on diversity and social consensus; strengthening local and regional identity; encouraging reflection and debate; etc. For this we use research and experimentation projects.