Amplifying Voices, Advancing Inclusion: Civil Society Advocacy on Gender Equity and Social Inclusion in Latin America and the Caribbean

• In Event: Inclusion, Civil Society, and the Right to Education: Advancing Peace and Equity through Advocacy and Accountability

Proposal

This presentation integrates findings from two interrelated initiatives: a South Pacific workshop on media-based advocacy for Gender, Age, Place, Socio-economic status, Ethnicity, Disability+ (GAPSED+) issues, and a regional analysis of Asia-Pacific Spotlight Reports on Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI). Together, these initiatives highlight how civil society in the Pacific and Asia-Pacific is advancing inclusive education through both capacity-building and evidence generation.

The South Pacific workshop, conducted with National Education Coalition (NEC) members, equipped participants with skills in digital storytelling, social media advocacy, and campaign design. Participants produced media projects addressing local education issues such as boys’ learning, disability justice, and inclusive schooling. These outputs were shared through an online showcase, fostering cross-country peer learning and regional collaboration. By centering local voices and building advocacy capacity, the workshop demonstrated how digital media can be a powerful tool for amplifying marginalized perspectives and influencing education debates.

The GESI analysis drew on 11 civil society Spotlight Reports submitted in 2024 across the Asia-Pacific region, including from Tajikistan, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Philippines, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Pakistan, and Samoa. The analysis found that while many reports reference GESI in terms of gender parity and disability inclusion, few systematically apply an intersectional lens. Common gaps included outdated or missing disaggregated data, underfunding of inclusive education, and insufficient teacher training on inclusive pedagogies. At the same time, promising practices were identified, such as Cambodia’s Gender Mainstreaming Strategic Plan, Nepal’s integration of equity indicators, and the Philippines’ grassroots-led campaigns linking GESI with climate justice.

Bringing these two strands together, the paper argues that civil society in the Asia-Pacific is uniquely positioned to link local advocacy with regional evidence generation. Workshops that build advocacy skills strengthen the agency of CSOs and communities, while Spotlight Reports provide the data and analysis needed to influence national and international policy. Together, they create a more robust civil society ecosystem capable of advancing inclusive, rights-based education.

The contribution of this paper is twofold. Theoretically, it highlights the interplay between intersectionality, media advocacy, and civil society accountability. Practically, it offers models for combining capacity-building with evidence-based advocacy to influence education systems. By situating both local voices and regional trends within the broader goal of peace and inclusion, this paper underscores how civil society can reimagine education as a pathway to justice.

Authors

• Matthew Schuelka, Fora Education

• Aditi Ashok Arur

• Nancy Pellowski Wiger, University of Minnesota

• Joan DeJaeghere, University of Minnesota

• Christopher Johnstone, University of Minnesota