Carolina (Caro) Caza

What ignited your pursuit for gender equality?

At a very young age, Carolina became involved with her peers to create meaningful actions to denaturalize and counteract violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. As a bisexual woman survivor of violence, she decided to study law and specialize in gender and development in order to have the technical tools to promote the road to recovery for people like her who survive different types of violence. For her it has been a path full of teachings, working with people, listening to them, supporting them, accompanying them in their processes and struggles; without leaving aside the collective care of the team that supports them, has been a very rewarding challenge.

Please share your biggest wins as an advocate for gender equality.

Thanks to the support of international cooperation, Carolina founded an NGO that provides immediate assistance services to survivors of sexual violence in Ecuador. Through this space, her organization offers several services: 1) training to certify victim assistants, 2) a 24-hour support line with national coverage, and 3) the creation of a hospital response team. During the year 2022, she received recognition as a Global Change Maker in Ecuador, category: Gender Equality & Ecosystem Builder by Startups and Funds.

Outside of your gender equality advocacy work, what do you enjoy doing?

I love to read, dance, and eat.