Hello! I’m Kika Fumero, and I’ve been the Director of the Canarian Institute for Equality (ICI) from July 2019 to July 2023, an Organism of the Regional Government of the Canary Islands. My expertise lies in various fields related to gender equality, gender-based violence, co-education, and LGBTQ+ human rights activism. I am a dedicated feminist, co-educator, visible lesbian teacher, public policy advisor, and a passionate researcher.

Fotografía de Kika Fumero. Mujer vista de cintura para arriba, con una camisa y un saco gris. Amplia sonrisa.
Afiche de Mascarilla-19. Silueta de mujer con mascarilla y leyenda "pide mascarilla-19 en la farmacia y sadran que tienen que llamar al 112"

Mask-19

During the COVID-19 lockdown, I created and designed the Mask-19 protocol, an initiative aimed at protecting women victims of gender-based violence and providing them with a tool to seek help through pharmacies. The protocol was activated when the victim requested a «Mask-19» at the pharmacy as an SOS code, alerting pharmacy staff to take immediate action and assist women at risk.

This initiative started as a local solution and it soon became a global movement. The Masks-19 protocol quickly spread and was replicated in multiple locations worldwide, becoming a recognized and an effective strategy to address gender-based violence during the pandemic. The campaign gained international traction, being implemented in different countries and adapted to local realities.

Mask-19

During the COVID-19 lockdown, I created and designed the Mask-19 protocol, an initiative aimed at protecting women victims of gender-based violence and providing them with a tool to seek help through pharmacies. The protocol was activated when the victim requested a «Mask-19» at the pharmacy as an SOS code, alerting pharmacy staff to take immediate action and assist women at risk.

This initiative started as a local solution and it soon became a global movement. The Masks-19 protocol quickly spread and was replicated in multiple locations worldwide, becoming a recognized and an effective strategy to address gender-based violence during the pandemic. The campaign gained international traction, being implemented in different countries and adapted to local realities.

Afiche de Mascarilla-19. Silueta de mujer con mascarilla y leyenda "pide mascarilla-19 en la farmacia y sadran que tienen que llamar al 112"

The international impact of the Mask-19 protocol demonstrated the power of solidarity and collaboration in the fight against gender-based violence. In an emergency situation like this, creativity and innovation allowed for a cost-effective and urgent solution in the face of a crisis. This experience strengthened even further my commitment to fight injustices and advocating for human rights.

My academic background supports my work in these fields. I am a Secondary School French Teacher and a certified Sworn Translator for English. Additionally, I hold an official Master’s degree in Gender Studies and Equality Policies from the University of La Laguna, and a Master’s degree in Abuse and Gender-based Violence from the National University of Distance Education.

I complemented my studies with a Master’s degree in Law, Economics, and European Union Policy from the University of Padua, Italy, and I am a University Expert in Spanish as a Second Language, Immigrant Students, and Intercultural Curriculum from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

To share a bit more about myself, there is something no one would expect. That is that I have always studied pure sciences. Mathematics fascinated me (and still does). I miss my afternoons with hyperboles and integrals, navigating through formulas and solving for x. However, curiosity and a desire to expand my knowledge took me to explore different paths, such as languages.

Languages have always been my passion. As a child I was fascinated by the idea that people in the world communicated using strange sounds that could somehow be similar to my language but still different at the same time. That awoke my hunger to learn and a motivation to continuously stretch the limits of what is possible. So much so, that at the age of 7, I started to investigate the way everything worked. English was my first foreign language, and after a while I combined it with playing the cello (my mathematical side always present!).

I couldn´t stop there, and continued exploring the beauty of languages. English, French, and Italian: that’s as far as I’ve gone (for now). They allow me to bring a more global perspective to my work and connect with the first-hand voices of other theorists who undoubtedly enrich what I do and help develop my critical thinking.

 

My academic background supports my work in these fields. I am a Secondary School French Teacher and a certified Sworn Translator for English. Additionally, I hold an official Master’s degree in Gender Studies and Equality Policies from the University of La Laguna, and a Master’s degree in Abuse and Gender-based Violence from the National University of Distance Education.

I complemented my studies with a Master’s degree in Law, Economics, and European Union Policy from the University of Padua, Italy, and I am a University Expert in Spanish as a Second Language, Immigrant Students, and Intercultural Curriculum from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

To share a bit more about myself, there is something no one would expect. That is that I have always studied pure sciences. Mathematics fascinated me (and still does). I miss my afternoons with hyperboles and integrals, navigating through formulas and solving for x. However, curiosity and a desire to expand my knowledge took me to explore different paths, such as languages.

Languages have always been my passion. As a child I was fascinated by the idea that people in the world communicated using strange sounds that could somehow be similar to my language but still different at the same time. That awoke my hunger to learn and a motivation to continuously stretch the limits of what is possible. So much so, that at the age of 7, I started to investigate the way everything worked. English was my first foreign language, and after a while I combined it with playing the cello (my mathematical side always present!).

I couldn´t stop there, and continued exploring the beauty of languages. English, French, and Italian: that’s as far as I’ve gone (for now). They allow me to bring a more global perspective to my work and connect with the first-hand voices of other theorists who undoubtedly enrich what I do and help develop my critical thinking.

 

Fotografía de Kika Fumero, Mujer sentada en un sofa azul con camisa negra, corbata lila y amplia sonrisa.

Intersectionality is a fundamental element in all the projects I undertake as it allows me to have a more accurate and humane vision, ensuring no one is left behind. National and international public policies are my strong suit, as well as directing, coordinating, and organizing teams. No fight is individual; progress must be collective. That’s how I understand my work wherever I go: we are always part of a team, and teams allows to enrich each other. To achieve this, it’s essential to look beyond ourselves,  to observe the world around us, and to understand the small portion of space we occupy.

Currently, I am on leave as a civil servant, and although I miss the students and the fresh, realistic perspective that youth brings to the table, I understand that I still have much to contribute from where I´m stading right now. I focus my professional career as an advisor on public and private policies (third sector) and as a project designer that promotes the eradication of all forms of gender-based violence. My compass? Human rights.

As an activist, I collaborate with LGBTI media outlets and magazines with an intersectional feminist perspective. I am deeply committed to share my knowledge and experience to promote equality and make visible all the diverse realities of women and individuals in this community.

In addition, I am the co-administrator of the blog Lyceum Club Femenino, along with my partner Paz Montalbán. It is a platform that creates a space for reflection and recovery of the feminist memory. The intent is to shed light on the hidden history of women in Spain and give voice to the culture designed by women, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or other intersecting characteristics.

I consider myself a woman in constant growth, a lover of diversity, and passionate about knowledge in all its forms. I am a thinker, an explorer, and a creative person committed to equality. I enjoy reading, music, and consider myself a visual learner. I am particularly interested in the culture created by women from the shadows, dissent, and margins. Currently, one of my fights focuses on making these voices visible and promoting equality in all areas. Oh, I almost forgot! I’m a fan of Playmobil figures, with which I build scenes that I later photograph for my work. Lately, I have discovered my best “inhouse therapy” to take care of my mind: watercolors. I highly recommend them!

In short, I am Kika Fumero, a restless woman, committed to gender equality, an activist feminist, a visible lesbian, and an advisor on public policies aiming to foster an egalitarian society where all individuals have equal opportunities for their development and growth. A utopia? Maybe. But that is my goal: to achieve utopia. It’s a marathon, but I believe we are on the right path. Will you join me?

Awards & Recognitions

No award or recognition of my work has been individual. Kika Fumero is much more than a just a person. Every woman I encountered in my life through stories, books and experiences are part of who I am: my mother, my friends, my comrades, my teachers, and many other people that opened my eyes, my heart and my soul to who we can become all together.

Más que musas: Women in culture in the Canary Islands, 2021

Recognition of his extensive career as an activist and specialist in topics such as coeducation, sexual and gender affective diversity, equality policies and the prevention of gender violence.

Lazo Morado city of Alarcón, 2021

Recognition for his work in the eradication of gender violence.

Recognition for the mask-19 campaign, 2020-2021

Official College of Pharmacists of Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Acknowledgment November 25th, 2020

For institutional response in defense of equality and against gender violence