PCS believes that in post-conflict situations the structural causes of human rights violations persist; therefore, it supports efforts to establish processes of truth, justice and reparations for victims, particularly women victims of sexual violence.
PCS also promotes the right to comprehensive development of these populations so as to guarantee the exercise of and respect for their rights, consistent with efforts to expand democracy, recognise diversity and foster equitable intercultural relations.
PCS therefore places special emphasis on combating impunity, in order to achieve justice and truth.
PCS adheres to the principle of the indivisibility, universality and interdependence of human rights. We believe that human rights are integral, inalienable, that they cannot be given up and that they are enduring, inviolable and progressive. We respect the indivisibility of rights, according equal importance to civil and political rights as to economic, social and cultural rights, and placing special emphasis on the right to diversity, which respects the specificities of the different social groups.
PCS believes that human rights are universal and should be enjoyed by all people, at all times; similarly that they are interdependent, in other words that a complementary relationship exists between them, which means that non-fulfilment of some rights affects the other rights; that they are integral or comprehensive because they cover all the needs that have a bearing on human dignity; that they are inalienable and cannot be given up because even an individual cannot renounce his/her rights, which are enduring and never end; that they are inviolable because these rights cannot be negotiated or traded, because their very existence requires governments and all people to respect, protect and uphold them.
Finally, PCS recognizes that rights are progressive because they tend to evolve, grow and progress over time, as societies develop a social awareness of the essence of individual and collective human dignity. In this sense, PCS does not accept any practice that restricts the human rights of women. The exercise of human rights is not possible unless there is also a policy decision to correct gender inequalities. For this reason, we give priority to strengthening the capacities of women and their organizations, contributing to the development of their social and political leadership skills so that they can assume their rightful role as leaders and decision-makers at the different levels of power, bearing in mind their gender identity and their socio-cultural and linguistic identity. In this way, we aim to contribute to a transformation in the relations of power between men and women and to a greater flexibility in traditional gender roles in order to promote other ways of being men and women.
The principles of PCS gender policy are based on an institutional decision to defend and promote human rights and the rights of women, indigenous peoples and communities of African descent, while respecting and valuing their diversity. Gender perspective is another cross-cutting axis present in all of PCS’ plans, programmes and project cycles, as well as in its institutional culture; it is therefor e essential to conduct an analysis of gender roles, relations and identities, placing emphasis on the situation and position of women in relation to men. In its actions, PCS gives priority to the empowerment of women, making them more visible as a human group and highlighting their contribution to social, political and economic life; it rejects, denounces and demands justice in the face of all forms of violence against women, both within the family and in the public sphere, particularly when sexual violence is committed against them. PCS seeks to contribute to women’s increased autonomy, and for this reason it works to strengthen their capacities to freely decide, act, create and recreate cultural, social, political and economic systems that oppose exclusion, silence and oppression.