Support Women and Girls' Leadership in Puerto Rico

This year, Fundación de Mujeres en Puerto Rico (FMnPR) has continued advancing its mission to strengthen feminist and community-based research as a driver for systemic change. Thanks to the continued support of our donors and allies through GlobalGiving, we have been able to invest in projects that generate essential data about gender, race, and social equity on the island, fields where information has historically been fragmented, outdated, or invisible.

Puerto Rico faces profound challenges in data collection and transparency, particularly regarding women’s rights, gender-based violence, and racial inequity. Most available data sources do not capture the lived experiences of women, girls, and gender-expansive people, nor do they reflect the interconnections between gender, race, class, and geography. This lack of comprehensive data weakens public policy design and limits the ability of organizations to advocate for structural change. Our foundation is working to fill that gap, investing in research created from and for the communities most affected by inequality.

Strengthening Feminist Knowledge: Compartir de Saberes 2025

In August 2025, FMnPR hosted its annual assembly, Compartir de Saberes: Feminist Research for Systemic Change, a public convening that brought together researchers, activists, and community leaders to present findings from three groundbreaking studies supported by the foundation. Over 300 people participated in person and online, highlighting the growing demand for feminist and community-rooted evidence to guide Puerto Rico’s social transformation.

The assembly’s central theme—“Feminist Research for Systemic Change”—underscored how research, when led by women and grounded in lived experience, becomes a tool to inform public policy, improve access to justice, and strengthen collective well-being.

The featured panel, Investigations that Drive Change, presented the following projects:

1. SIEMPREVIVAS RUM: A University-Based Model for Supporting Survivors of Gender Violence: This study documents the history, structure, and impact of SIEMPREVIVAS RUM, an academic and service model that has provided integrated support to survivors of gender violence since 2005. Through a systematic analysis of narratives and organizational practices, the research identifies lessons learned, best practices, and challenges that inform the replication of this model across universities in Puerto Rico. Its findings serve as a roadmap for embedding gender perspective in higher education and student support systems.
2. Colectivo Ilé: Structural Racism and Afrodescendant Youth in Puerto Rico: This research examines how structural racism affects young Black and Afrodescendant people (ages 18–24) across education, employment, and health. Using decolonial and intersectional frameworks, the study reveals how racial and gender inequities intersect to restrict access to opportunities and resources. The data will inform evidence-based policies that address racial discrimination, advance equity in public institutions, and center the voices of youth in the design of social programs.
3. Observatorio de Equidad de Género: Monitoring Gender-Based Violence and Femicide: The Observatorio maintains Puerto Rico’s most reliable database of femicides and gender-based killings. By tracking and analyzing each case, the study exposes patterns that can inform prevention strategies and reforms in justice and security systems. The data collected is critical for holding institutions accountable and ensuring that public policy reflects the urgent need to protect women and girls.

Why This Work Matters

The absence of consistent, intersectional data continues to hinder Puerto Rico’s ability to respond effectively to social crises. Without accurate data:

• Government agencies fail to allocate resources equitably.
• Gender-based violence remains underreported and poorly addressed.
• Policies often overlook racial, regional, and gender diversity.

By investing in feminist research, FMnPR is ensuring that public policy in Puerto Rico is informed by real community experiences, not abstract statistics. Each study we support strengthens the capacity of women-led organizations to collect and analyze their own data, ensuring that their findings translate into meaningful policy reform, improved public services, and replicable community models.

Impact and Next Steps

Through this collective effort, FMnPR has:

• Supported three major research projects reaching universities, community organizations, and advocacy networks across Puerto Rico.
• Convened over 300 participants in public discussions on evidence-based gender justice.
• Strengthened a growing network of feminist researchers producing actionable data to guide education, employment, and health policies.
• Elevated visibility of gender-based violence and systemic racism as interlinked social crises demanding coordinated policy responses.

In the coming months, FMnPR will continue supporting the final publication, peer review, and dissemination of these studies. The next phase includes the development of implementation guides to ensure that these research findings can be replicated in other institutions and community settings, and the pursuit of copyright and ISBN registration to formalize their academic and public recognition.

GRACIAS | THANK YOU!

We are profoundly grateful to our GlobalGiving donors and philanthropic allies for believing in this vision. Your support enables us to sustain rigorous, community-rooted research that challenges inequality and informs public policy. Together, we are building a Puerto Rico where feminist knowledge becomes a cornerstone of justice and collective well-being.