ADVOCACY UNLOCKED

Ms. Majandra Acha from Peru

The WFWPI UN Young Women's Retreat took place during the 60th CSW, where we received an in depth advocacy training from Peruvian sociologist, educator, and activist, Ms. Majandra Acha.

Through an interactive discussion, she shared with us what an advocate is and how to become more effective as an advocate. To develop your skills, see the highlights below!

What is an advocate?

An advocate is someone who wants change to occur, and often stands as a representative of a group. An advocate maintains a clear perspective of the issue, and keeps their eyes on that focus. Their main objective is to make sure that change happens, and to clarify how to make that change effectively. It is important to be as specific as possible when making a proposal.

How do you advocate efficiently?

Majandra shared a few important things to remember when advocating for something. In order to direct your energy efficiently, keep in mind your target audience and which platform(s) would be most beneficial for change. Depending on what these two things are, your actions could be very different. For example, are you working to influence a specific decision maker or to develop your media presence to achieve your goal? Also, remember that language is political power. Educate yourself on the meaning of terms at the UN, such as the difference between the term "family" and "families."

What are some helpful tips?

Train yourself to see where there are gaps-such as in the Sustainable Development Goals-to identify places where your perspective is needed.

Use your hand as a reminder of the 5 step elevator speech, which comes in handy when meeting speakers after an event. The steps are: first, introduce yourself, then give three convincing arguments for your case, and end with the following statement: "Because of all of this, you should support this project to ensure that this change occurs."

Assess your own skills and strengths, and work with others who fill in your weaknesses.