Draft:Inter Pares

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Inter Pares is a Canadian non-governmental organization based in Ottawa. Its name means "among equals" in Latin, reflecting its core principle of solidarity rather than charity. Founded in 1975, Inter Pares supports individuals and communities in creating more equitable and peaceful societies. It collaborates with over 120 organizations worldwide to identify and address the root causes of injustice and foster sustainable social change.

History

Since its creation, the organization has been shaped by its long-standing relationships, creating new forms of solidarity with trusted and committed social justice activists worldwide. Through these partnerships, Inter Pares has brought attention to evolving issues, including the threats posed by biotechnology to seeds and biodiversity, the exploitation of temporary foreign workers in Canada, and the broader consequences of international investment treaties that often privilege corporate rights over those of communities.

Through these efforts to promote a sustainable society, Inter Pares engages in innovative work, including seed funding for social change initiatives, advocating for responsible government policies, raising awareness of social justice issues, and creating memorable learning exchanges.

Major developments

Early years (1980–1987)

From 1980 to 1985 marked a period of seed funding from Inter Pares, which enabled ASSEFA to work with thousands of landless individuals from Southern India, and provide them with the training and resources to be effective in developing sustainable farming. ASSEFA is now running a large network of educational, health, and rural development programs that serve hundreds of thousands of people, most of whom are women.

Inter Pares, in 1981, was the lead organization for Tools for Peace, Canada's largest international solidarity movement since the Spanish Civil War. With 126 chapters across Canada, the initiative generated widespread public engagement and support. It raised approximately $12 million in direct aid for Nicaraguan villages and effectively challenged the Canadian government to take an independent foreign policy approach toward the Sandinista government.

Between 1984 and 1987, Inter Pares played a crucial role in the development of a production called Side Effects, which highlighted the harmful impacts of the pharmaceutical industry and population control on women in both Bangladesh and Canada. This performance reached fifty-one communities across Canada, which led to the formation of the Canadian Women's Health Network and prompted significant changes to Canada's aid program.

In 1986, Inter Pares transitioned to a non-hierarchical organizational structure to better reflect feminist principles of equality that influence its external interactions. As a result, co-managers within Inter Pares now share equal responsibility and accountability for the organization, reach important decisions through consensus, and receive the same base salary.

Expansion (1988–2006)

In 1988, Inter Pares worked with sugar workers on Negros Island in the Philippines to battle a feudal system that had entrenched poverty in local communities for generations. The Philippine government implemented partial reforms to transfer land from major landowners to small-scale farmers in response to this mobilization by farmers and agricultural workers.

In the 1990s, Inter Pares supported Project Counselling Service's efforts to assist Guatemalan and Salvadoran refugees returning home by working with various organizations to secure multi-year funding from the Canadian government. Additionally, it raised funds for housing, healthcare, human rights advocacy, and livelihood support for these refugees.

In 2001, Inter Pares began its support for independent ethnic media organizations in Burma that operated underground due to fears of persecution. These groups have since gained significant respect for their coverage of mainstream issues, utilizing local languages and perspectives

During the period between 2002 to 2003, Inter Pares facilitated an exchange program involving refugee women from Guatemala and Burma. Both groups had escaped state-sanctioned violence and faced challenges in exile, leading them to recognize the importance of organizing collectively as women. Even now, with the increasing possibility of refugees returning to Burma, these women draw on lessons learned from the experiences of their Guatemalan counterparts.

In 2006, through the efforts of the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network, Inter Pares opposed the development of "Terminator" seeds, which are genetically modified to be non-viable after harvest. Due to advocacy from civil society organizations worldwide, the United Nations maintained an international ban on these seeds, arguing this would safeguard the livelihoods of millions of small farmers.

Thirty-year milestone (2007)

Three decades following the establishment of the People's Food Commission, Inter Pares initiated the People's Food Policy Project. This civic investigation into Canada's food system engaged 3,500 activists and leaders in crafting the nation's first food sovereignty policy. This document now serves as a fundamental element in Food Secure Canada's advocacy and policy framework.

Alongside that accomplishment, Inter Pares was among a select group of Canadian organizations that efficiently lobbied for sanctions against Burma's military regime. These measures were considered some of the toughest in the world. Additionally, Inter Pares organized a round table titled Women's Struggles for Justice, which gathered twenty activists from four different continents to exchange their experiences, propose concrete solutions, and strategize actions aimed at addressing sexual violence against women in armed conflict.

Recent work (2011–2014)

Inter Pares launched the (In)Equality Matters tour in 2011, hosting public discussions in Saskatoon, Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa focusing on social justice, economic systems, and resource extraction in both Canada and Africa. More than 300 individuals participated, contributing to a deeper understanding of the root causes of inequality.

In 2013, Inter Pares gave funding to Guatemala's Breaking the Silence and Impunity Alliance to provide legal and psychosocial assistance to fifteen Q'eqchi' women. These survivors were vital for the first criminal trials addressing sexual slavery and rape committed by government forces during the Guatemalan armed conflict, setting an important legal precedent within the nation. That same year, health care providers supported by Inter Pares in Burma reached approximately 550,000 people. These partners trained over 8,500 health workers and birth attendants delivered more than 24,000 babies since 2010.

In 2014, Inter Pares' first-ever solidarity tour brought fourteen supporters of its organization to Guatemala to explore landmark court cases organized by Indigenous women, meet survivors of human rights violations, and strengthen solidarity. While back home, the activities made public presentations to raise awareness about social justice issues affecting Guatemala.

Framework

Feminism

Inter Pares is recognized as a feminist organization that embraces intersectionality and inclusivity for transgender individuals. Its political framework analyzes the social and cultural structures that perpetuate inequality, addressing issues related to gender, race, class, and global power dynamics between the Global North and South. The organization prioritizes women's rights and leadership, while also championing transgender and non-binary advocacy, despite persistent marginalization.

The organization's work widely reflects the tradition of Canadian social justice, including peace, equality, human dignity, and international solidarity. Through partnerships with allied organizations, Inter Pares promotes the rights of all people to exist free from discrimination, violence, and oppression, thereby fostering solidarity with those involved in feminist and LGBTQ2S+ movements. This feminist approach aims to establish conditions that allow women to fully exercise their autonomy and freedom, thereby enabling women to make decisions about their own reproductive choices, and political participation.

Mission and approach

Canadian non-governmental organizations emerged within a broader context of increased civil society participation in international development. Inter Pares views development not as a set of technical problems to be solved through the knowledge of others, but rather as a collective and political process driven by communities themselves to make political and economic decisions, assert autonomy, and pursue emancipation.

The mission of Inter Pares is to empower individuals and communities in Canada and across the world to assert their own agency and participate in the fight for justice, emphasizing equality, solidarity, and sustainability. Inter Pares promotes active participation by fostering collaboration among individuals and communities around the world to unite and actively create solutions to address issues of social justice that affect them, while also encouraging practices that enable long-term social and economic self-sufficiency.

Inter Pares provides solidarity with the assistance of its counterparts by supporting more equitable public policy, public campaigns, and the exchange of stories from all communities working to inspire activists that struggle with similar issues. As opposed to having overseas offices for a singular global institution, this organization supports local communities and activists on a local level. Their aim is to establish a reciprocal relationship where activists work in their own countries and learn from one another rather than being trapped in a one-sided aid relationship.

Partnership

Inter Pares has long-standing relationships with over 75 social justice groups across 22 countries to fight for justice and peace. These issues demand local leadership and collective action to address systemic inequities, foster peace and reconciliation, contributing to the emergence of movements that challenge power structures benefiting from violence, displacement, poverty, and corruption.

Inter Pares has worked with partners across Canada to establish coalitions and organizations addressing: right to food, equitable tax systems, and protection of democratic dissent. This work extends to countries like the Philippines, where it addresses women's health; Sudan, where it challenges child marriage; El Salvador, where it addresses gender-based violence; and Canada, where it advocates for federal leaders to focus on issues identified by women. Initiatives include documenting human rights abuses, enhancing access to healthcare, supporting livelihood development, and promoting democratic participation.

Area of focus

Inter Pares aims to address both acute and systemic roots of injustice on a global scale by partnering with organizations that support communities impacted by resource exploitation, and promotes fair trade agreements. Inter Pares prioritizes six key thematic areas:

  1. Food sovereignty
  2. Women's equality
  3. Peace and democracy
  4. Economic justice
  5. Health
  6. Migration.

Food sovereignty

Inter Pares has collaborated with international farmers' movements, particularly those led by women, to create a fairer food system. Food sovereignty transforms the food system into one that is sustainable, equal, and empowers individuals in their decision-making roles. These partnerships emphasize agroecology and the advocacy for food sovereignty, addressing the challenges posed by the agro-industrial model of food production and neoliberal economic policies. The organizations involved uphold the rights of farmers to preserve land and seed diversity while protecting agricultural biodiversity and combat climate change by creating connections among farmers to encourage the sharing of skills and innovative solutions.

Women's equality

Gender justice and women's rights are central objectives of Inter Pares' initiatives and political evaluations. The oppression faced by women manifests in various forms, including:

  • Physical and sexual violence
  • Exclusion from political participation
  • Violence against women's health
  • Lack of access to education
  • Economic marginalization

While individuals play a vital role in creating social change, the root cause of this violence are the societal structures that undermine women's value. Inter Pares aims to tackle the underlying causes of violence against women and its repercussions, through their work in women's health and rights to allow women to shape their future free from coercion.

Peace and democracy

Around the globe, civic organizations are advocating for broader involvement in the democratization process. These initiatives seek to restore governmental authority and accountability in establishing social and economic policies that safeguard and reflect the interests of all citizens. Inter Pares and its partners are working on creating avenues for local development while promoting widespread engagement, achieved through:

  • Sustainable peace
  • Promoting justice
  • Tolerance
  • Equal participation
  • Reconciliation

Related issues include armed conflict, civil liberties, human rights violations (such as freedom of expression), governance challenges, humanitarian aid, impunity, indigenous and ethnic rights, and militarization concerns. Inter Pares supports forms of integration strengthened by regional, national, and international connections; however, it emphasizes that local power is essential not only for ensuring participation and self-governance at the community level but also for establishing a strong foundation for democratization.

Economic justice

Unfair trade practices, domestic subsidies, and the unregulated extraction of resources contribute to the erosion of local economies that sustain millions of people. As national economies grow more intertwined within the global economic framework, wealth increasingly accumulates among a smaller number of individuals, while many others descend into poverty due to the loss of their means of self-sufficiency.

Inter Pares is dedicated to establishing regulations within the extractive sector to safeguard human rights and protect the environment. Additionally, they are focused on addressing tax justice to ensure nations receive their rightful share of revenue. Their advocacy centers on creating fair international trade agreements that benefit both Southern and Northern societies equitably, while also promoting corporate accountability and regulating corporate power.

Health

Health is an essential aspect of social justice. When healthcare is treated as a commodity and access is based on financial capability, it creates obstacles for those who are less privileged.

Inter Pares collaborates with various organizations to push for inclusive, publicly funded healthcare systems that are easily accessible to all. These organizations align by viewing healthcare as a collective responsibility rather than a market-driven product, engaging in research to inform public awareness and mobilization to promote health services in areas where conflict or government neglect is negatively affecting access to healthcare.

Migration

Many people on the move are either refugees or internally displaced persons (IDPs), forced from their homes because of conflict and violence. Some individuals are pushed to relocate to urban areas or cross borders in search of better economic opportunities due to local economic breakdowns.

Promoting civic duty and social cohesion with all migrants is essential for advancing their rights. The partnership between Inter Pares and its counterparts both in Canada and globally promotes the human rights of refugees, undocumented migrants, internally displaced individuals (IDPs), migrant laborers, and cross-border migrants. Together, they focus on freedom of movement, the right to resist coercive relocation, and the right for individuals to return safely to their homes.

Geographical focus

Inter Pares collaborates with longstanding partners, working with both local and national organizations across Asia, Africa, Latin America, Canada, and Burma.

Asia

Activists across Asia encounter numerous challenges, including the promotion of women's rights, protection of their territories, fostering food sovereignty, and pursuit of enduring peace and democracy, by tackling unfair trade practices, and addressing rising inequality.

This partnership involves local groups from countries such as the Philippines, Burma, India, and Bangladesh, and subregions like Malaysia and Thailand. Together, conduct research and speak on reproductive rights, food sovereignty, refugee rights, self-determination for marginalized communities, and environmental concerns.

Africa

Africa is known for its vast cultural and biological variety, as well as its rich natural resources. Following the liberation movements that ended colonialism, African civil society has worked to recover the political space required for communities to gain control over their resources.

National and Pan-African organizations work with Inter Pares to advocate for food sovereignty, peacebuilding, gender equality, and economic justice. African regions include:

  • Burkina Faso
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Kenya
  • Mali
  • Senegal
  • Sudan
  • Togo

Efforts done with Canada are to create a broader insight of the factors causing poverty in Africa while aiming to influence trade, development, and aid policies that support African civil societies endeavor towards equal societies.

Latin America

The underlying issues in Latin America continue, and democratic institutions are not addressing them effectively. In countries emerging from conflict, peace initiatives have largely failed to tackle these issues and the numerous consequences of violence including economic exclusion and impunity. However, a new wave of citizenship is rising, with individuals asserting their rights and demanding a voice in their nation's governance.

National organizations across Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Peru, Colombia, and Honduras, are working with Inter Pares to empower communities in managing their resources, instilling political inclusion of women and Indigenous communities. These measures aim to confront economic marginalization and challenge the impunity from powerful groups to foster democratic peace. The support of Inter Pares has enabled women in Latin America to speak out about sexual violence in conflict regarding the judicial system. In countries such as Guatemala and Peru, these organizations provide legal support and psychosocial counseling tailored to the needs of survivors.

Canada

Canada holds a strong democratic heritage, from its intensive human, economic, and natural resources; however, the country faces profound inequalities and injustices that call for strategic actions from the public, government bodies, and civil society organizations. Historically, Canada is one of the industrialized countries that has maintained limited connections with developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

However, Inter Pares seeks to position Canada as a frontrunner in efforts related to poverty alleviation, human rights advocacy, and social justice both domestically and internationally. Across Canada, Inter Pares partners with social justice and development organizations, working together on programs designed to generate capacities, increase policy effectiveness, and engage within the country. This involves regularly organizing public events spread across Canada, such as those in Ottawa, to speak on these issues.

Burma

Burma, a nation known for its ethnic diversity, has faced a prolonged history of systematic abuse of human rights and significant displacement. For more than 60 years, the country has been under military rule and civil conflict.

Inter Pares enhances local civil society efforts by working with civil society organizations in Burma and neighboring countries like India, Thailand, and Bangladesh to promote a path towards democracy and the delivery of public services through funding initiatives, capacity-building programs, learning exchanges, coalition formation, and advocacy efforts supported by Global Affairs Canada

Finances

Inter Pares is committed to maintaining clear, transparent, and constructive communication with its donors. All employees share the responsibility of ensuring that donations are effectively utilized. In 2024, Inter Pares' total expenditures reached $11,010,378.

More than 72% of these funds supported social justice initiatives in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Canada. The rest of the funds:

  • 19% designated for program operations including monitoring activities and staff salaries
  • 5% was directed towards fundraising efforts: online donation platforms, printing expenses, bank fees, and salaries for fundraising staff
  • 4% went to administrative costs: office management, governance, financial oversight, and salaries for finance personnel

"Ad meliora" (Latin for "towards better things") embodies the belief that ordinary individuals around the world can contribute to social change. The Inter Pares network consists of thousands of individuals dedicated to advocating for social justice and promoting global equality through volunteering to create a better world.

References

Related Articles

Wikiwand AI