Creating Resources for Empowerment in Action

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Creating Resources for Empowerment in Action, New Delhi, India

One of the few international human rights organizations based in the Global South, Creating Resources for Empowerment in Action (CREA) enhances women's leadership capacity by providing leadership trainings focused on issues of sexuality, reproductive health, violence against women, economic justice and women's rights. A key player in the last ten years in social movements in India, CREA took leadership in the Voices Against 377 coalition, a co-petitioner in the case brought before the Delhi High Court that decriminalized homosexuality in July 2009. Now CREA is working to prevent the decision from being overturned by the Supreme Court, including providing resources on the case in Hindi to increase advocacy, and reducing stigma and discrimination through public education with Hindi speaking populations.

In addition to this major achievement, CREA has contributed to the women’s rights and sexual rights movements with innovative strategies that build the leadership of marginalized communities, advocate for just laws and polices, increase access to knowledge and scholarship, and change public discourses. For example, CREA was one of the conveners of a four-city event that applied a traditional judicial structure to make an impact. In each city, in front of audiences 200-300 strong, LGBT people gave testimonials before a panel of experts and elders about the stigma they faced. One government official who attended was so moved that they committed to advocate for LGBT rights within the government.

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