Solidarity Investment for the Defense of our Rights

Community-based organizations that work for equity are key drivers in the defense of human rights and collective well-being, especially in contexts of vulnerability. Investing in their economic strengthening is not only a matter of sustainability, but a strategy to build a resilient front against any attempt to limit the rights of women and people in the LGBTQ+ community. This empowerment ensures more autonomous, effective, and organized responses, consolidating their role in the fight for equity, justice, and dignity.

From the communities, the fair recovery of Puerto Rico has been led in the face of socio-climatic disasters, acting from the front line with solidarity and collective effort. They have formed brigades, rebuilt communities, and defended our natural resources, ensuring the well-being of the land and a legacy for future generations. Their constant struggle demonstrates not only their capacity for resistance, but also the power of community leadership as an engine of liberation and collective care.

The struggle to guarantee basic human rights is the legacy of generations who faced obstacles with determination and power. From community activism, laws have been promoted that protect the safety and freedom of women, ensuring their reproductive, economic, and social autonomy. Today, we remain firm in the defense of our bodies, aware that any setback directly threatens our freedoms. In this increasingly hostile and restrictive political context, our resistance is not only necessary, but essential to protect everything we have achieved.

Grassroots work is vital to protect and strengthen our communities, but faces serious limitations in access to philanthropic, federal, and state funds. A further reduction in these resources would not only jeopardize their sustainability, but would also exacerbate existing inequalities. These organizations are essential to provide critical services and respond to emergencies; their weakening would compromise their capacity for action and, in the long term, would especially affect the most vulnerable sectors in Puerto Rico.

Women’s funds, such as the Fundación de Mujeres en Puerto Rico, are committed to those organizations that guarantee social transformation. It is a feminist philanthropy model that seeks to protect fundamental human rights, especially in the face of existing political challenges. For us, it is essential that investments in community projects are made with a critical and transformative perspective, avoiding supporting agendas that perpetuate discrimination and inequity. Feminist philanthropy remains vigilant and active, funding projects that promote economic, racial, and reproductive justice, and strengthening support networks that challenge the rollback of rights.

It is necessary to guarantee a sustained and strategic investment in organizations that promote the well-being and protect the rights of women and the LGBTQIA+ community. These organizations not only offer essential services and support in contexts of vulnerability, but are also bastions in the fight for equality and social justice. Investment should focus on strengthening their capacity for response and resilience, allowing them to continue defending rights against regressive policies and fostering safe and inclusive spaces. Only through constant and equitable funding can their sustainability and long-term effectiveness be ensured.