The Embassy of Canada, through its Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), is providing support to the Intersex Philippines Inc. (IXPI), which is implementing a project – dubbed “I.N.T.E.R.S.E.X: Informing the Nation, Transforming Engagement, and Raising Support for Equality and eXistence”.
I.N.T.E.R.S.E.X eyes to “advance the rights and visibility of intersex Filipinos by increasing public awareness, strengthening national policy advocacy, and building institutional support for inclusive laws and programs.”
CFLI is a competitive grants program run by the Embassy of Canada in the Philippines, providing direct financial support to local organizations for projects that promote inclusive governance, in areas such as the empowerment of women and girls, strengthening democracy, protecting the environment, advancing human rights, and promoting the rule of law.
“I see the CFLI funding as a vital support in our ongoing fight for recognition and dignity for intersex Filipinos,” said Jeff B. Cagandahan, executive director of IXPI.
Cagandahan added that the funding will be used to “raise public awareness, advocate for key legislation such as the Cagandahan Bill, promote the better implementation of health-related laws, and help us bring the conversation to communities outside Metro Manila through our Intersex 101 caravan, where we engage local governments, schools, and civil society to build understanding and support. With CFLI’s help, we’re creating spaces where intersex voices are heard.”
According to Canada’s Ambassador to the Philippines, David Hartman: “CFLI is a recognition of the fundamental importance to democracy of creating and preserving space for civil society, academia, human rights advocates, and local and national government to work together constructively and collaboratively to advance shared goals for the improvement of local communities.”
Aside from IXPI, five other organizations from across the Philippines will receive support from the CFLI this year, namely:
- Guiuan Development Foundation, Inc. (GDFI)’s “Building Climate and Coastal Resilience through Inclusive Integrated Coastal Zone Management in Northern Leyte Gulf”
- Foundation for Media Alternatives (FMA)’s “Strengthening protection for women human rights defenders (WHRDs) through the development of a toolkit on technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV), and advancing other strategies to promote and protect their rights”
- Geneva Call’s “Strengthening the Crisis Action Response Team to prevent and respond to local violence before, during, and after the election periods in BARMM”
- Mindanao Institute of Journalism (MIJ)’s “Amplifying frontline voices in climate resilience in Mindanao through multimedia storytelling”
