By: Celeste Fernandez, Co-Executive Director, Asociación Civil por la Igualdad y la Justicia (ACIJ) 

This week, the High-level Political Forum (HLPF) in New York is reviewing countries’ progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, highlighting the interlinked nature of all the goals. Alongside governments, the GEM Report’s recent Learning to build just societies report, co-published with Namati, shows the vital role played by civil society plays a vital role in these discussions, amplifying the voices of communities that are often unheard, providing independent perspectives, and strengthening accountability for the commitments countries have made. 

Since its origins, Asociación Civil por la Igualdad y la Justicia (ACIJ) has developed strong work in informal settlements in Argentina, as we were convinced that those were territories where multiple forms of inequality intersected and where some of the most severe human rights violations were concentrated. Through this engagement, it became clear that education was a critical area of concern. We saw firsthand how structural barriers—especially those linked to poverty and geography—were preventing children from accessing school. 

Using the law to improve access to education 

In one case, we worked with communities to address the lack of safe and reliable transportation making it simply impossible for children in these informal settlements to reach school. Through strategic litigation, we were able to secure a court ruling requiring the Buenos Aires city government to guarantee transportation so that children could attend school safely.  

In another case, we challenged deeper structural inequalities in how education resources were distributed across the city. We demonstrated that schools in wealthier northern areas of the city had significantly more available places than those in poorer southern districts. This case exposed how public funding patterns were reinforcing geographic inequality and limiting access to education for the most disadvantaged. 

By that time, we saw that some of the barriers to access education in those territories were not only explained by poverty, but also by disability. Throughout the years, our work to ensure the right to education expanded beyond informal settlements. This led us to establish a dedicated team focused on the rights of persons with disabilities, with a special focus on inclusive education, ensuring that these issues received the sustained attention they require. 

Caption: ACIJ and the Disability Legal Clinic of the University of La Plata (UNLP) together with Mateo, a young man with disabilities, and his family on the day that a judge reversed his decision to refer him to a special school and let him study within the general education system. 

Caption: Alan Rodríguez, a young man with disabilites, on the day he received his high school diploma. His school and the Ministry of Education of the City of Buenos Aires had denied his right to graduate, but with legal representation from ACIJ, he successfully got the court to order them to issue his certificate and allow him to continue studying. 

Working with the community to improve understanding of the law and how to use it.  

We believe that democracy depends on active and informed citizenship. Rather than imposing legal strategies, we work alongside communities to identify their priorities and translate these into legal and policy action. This means supporting residents to understand their rights, navigate legal systems, and actively shape the frameworks that affect their lives. 

Community-driven litigation is central to this model.  

“We collaborate closely with communities to define problems and co-create solutions, whether through legal action, public campaigns, or dialogue with authorities”.  

At the same time, we recognize that maintaining engagement throughout long and often slow legal processes can be challenging. Communities’ needs evolve, and sustaining collective momentum requires constant dialogue and adaptation. 

Caption: ACIJ professionals alongside community leaders from different informal settlements located in the City and in the Province of Buenos Aires. Here they are receiving their diplomas after completing a human rights training course held in 2025 at the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) School of Law. 

Another important dimension of our work is budget analysis. Public budgets are often seen as technical and inaccessible, but they are in fact powerful tools for accountability. By training community leaders to understand and analyze government spending, we enable them to challenge claims that resources are insufficient and to advocate for more equitable allocation. This kind of knowledge can shift the balance of power, allowing communities to engage more effectively in public debates. 

We have also invested in participatory approaches to data collection. In one initiative, community members documented living conditions in informal settlements, producing evidence that challenged official narratives. For example, while authorities claimed that residents had access to water, community-generated data revealed that the water available was contaminated and unsafe. This kind of evidence not only strengthens advocacy but also ensures that policy discussions are grounded in lived realities. 

A shrinking space for civil society in Argentina 

Despite these advances, the context in which we operate has become increasingly challenging. In Argentina today, civil society organizations face a shrinking space for advocacy. Public narratives often question the role of human rights organizations and portray social spending as inefficient or excessive. This environment has required us to rethink our strategies and reflect more deeply on how to achieve, measure and communicate impact. 

For me, this moment underscores the importance of reconnecting with communities and focusing on initiatives that lead to tangible improvements in people’s lives. Many marginalized communities feel that participation does not deliver meaningful change, leading to frustration and disengagement, particularly among younger generations. Rebuilding trust means focusing on the real needs communities have and demonstrating that civic engagement can produce real results. 

It also means engaging more directly in difficult public debates. Questions about the effectiveness and efficiency of public institutions cannot be avoided. If civil society does not address these issues, others will frame the conversation in ways that risk undermining public systems altogether. Our role is to engage constructively—defending the importance of strong public institutions while advocating for their improvement. 

Looking ahead, I see collaboration as essential. No single organization can drive systemic change alone. Building alliances—with universities, grassroots organizations, and even the private sector—is critical. Equally important is fostering dialogue across political differences, as rebuilding trust in democratic processes depends on our ability to value dissent and engage across divides. 

At ACIJ, we are also exploring new ways to strengthen democratic participation, including initiatives in schools aimed at fostering deliberation and nurturing future community leaders. Education plays a central role in this vision. It is not only about access to schooling, but about shaping democratic cultures and empowering individuals to participate meaningfully in public life. 

Ultimately, our work is about ensuring that rights are not abstract principles, but lived realities. By combining legal strategies with community empowerment, we strive to build a more equal and just society—one where every person has both the knowledge and the power to claim their rights.