The Theoretical Foundations and Strategic Vision of Advocacy

Abstract

Advocacy is a concept still under construction and its meaning necessarily varies in accordance with the social and political context of each nation. As different social groups become involved in advocacy work this concepth as acquired new contents and meanings. It also has been gaining greater relevance for feminist efforts to influence political debates and policy agendas. Engaging in advocacy requires greater knowledge of the political context conceptual deepening and the development of specific skills of negotiation, planning and communication strategies. On its path from North to South America, the advocacy concept also has been undergoing a complex and continuous process of political translation. Feminist advocacy in Latin America is a clearly political action that entails re-discussing the role of the State and of civil society within the process of democratization and, at the same time, requires re-thinking strategies of feminist interventions in the promotion of political, economic and cultural transformations.