More than 100 civil society organizations in Guanajuato have come together to form the first State Coordinator of Civil Society Organizations (COSOC) in Mexico. Of these organizations, only 93 are registered as authorized donors, reflecting the limited opportunities to access resources and support. Amid significant challenges, the creation of the COSOC presents a key solution to strengthen the so-called "third sector" and generate a common voice to drive real change.
The COSOC will be legally constituted in May and has achieved the adherence of 104 associations, representing a significant percentage compared to the registered organizations in the state. Belem Mercado Calderón, representative of Comunidad Loyola, has been elected as the first president of the State Board of Directors. Her work will focus on highlighting the interests of the OSC and working directly for the rights of the most vulnerable populations in Guanajuato.
In an environment where conditions are becoming increasingly adverse for civil associations, the creation of the COSOC represents a unique opportunity to improve the efficiency in the management and promotion of human and social rights. This coordinator will be a support point for the OSC of León, granting them greater capacity to influence public policies and expanded access to resources, in addition to allowing active defense of the rights of the most vulnerable groups in the region.
Ricardo Bucio, Executive President of the Mexican Center for Philanthropy, highlighted the challenges faced by civil society in Guanajuato. With only 21.6 nonprofit associations per 100,000 inhabitants, the state ranks 30th nationally in the number of OSC.
The COSOC is born with the objective of unifying and strengthening the voice of the sector, defending the interests of the OSC and the rights of the most vulnerable people in the region. This initiative represents a new model for the defense of the rights of vulnerable sectors in Guanajuato, marking a historic milestone in the joint work of civil society organizations in the state.
