Project Summary of “Capacity-Building to Protect, Assist and Integrate Central American Female Victims of Violence in Costa Rica” by the Centre for the Social Rights of Migrants 

Project title: Capacity-Building to Protect, Assist and Integrate Central American Female Victims of Violence in Costa Rica 

Organization: Centre for the Social Rights of Migrants (CENDEROS) 

Country: Costa Rica 

Budget: $182,476 

Project implementation period: 1 September 2018–31 August 2021 (no-cost extension until 30 November 2021) 

This paper summarizes the three-year project implemented by the civil society organization Centre for the Social Rights of Migrants (CENDEROS) from 2018 to 2021 with a small grant from the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women.

The project aimed to improve the safety of forcibly displaced women who are survivors of violence in a cross-border region of Costa Rica.

Key findings 

The project: 

• enhanced understanding of the various forms of violence experienced by women in the targeted region;
• improved institutional practices related to addressing violence against women and girls, and fostered cooperation among relevant institutions; 
• developed a community violence prevention strategy, which was implemented in eight rural communities and guided community organizations on implementing care practices, promoting sisterhood and fostering solidarity among women affected by violence; 
• enabled 91 women to manage a network of 300 women working to eradicate violence in their communities;
• trained and empowered 54 young people who established youth networks to further the project's goals; and 
• enhanced the safety of forcibly displaced women who are survivors of violence in the targeted region of Costa Rica.

Legacy 

The findings and lessons learned from the project are invaluable for other practitioners and partners working to end violence against women and girls. The project’s outcomes are also informing the next stage of the project and contribute to raising awareness for sustained investment in CENDEROS and its endeavours to prevent and respond to violence against refugee and migrant women and girls, while promoting gender equality in Costa Rica.