A Political Agenda from Women's Perspective

Community leaders, politicians, journalists, environmentalists, health professionals, activists, housewives, representatives of indigenous communities, among others, met for two months at Casa de la Mujer to discuss political power, patriarchy, gender violence, self-determination of bodies, economic autonomy and natural resources.

The objective was to update the Departmental Political Agenda from the Women of Santa Cruz, which had been prepared in 2015, and to collectively build the new Agenda 2018-2024, which will soon be discussed with government representatives.

Each session featured presentations by specialists who provided an overview with relevant figures and data on each topic. Afterwards, the attendees organized themselves into working groups to review the points on the previous agenda and discuss new proposals based on their perceptions, knowledge, and the information obtained during the presentations.

Around 200 people contributed to the development of the document. The process aimed to define strategic themes and activities, establish alliances and commitments, and define the roles of social organizations, NGOs, and civil society actors who participated in the working groups.

Women are mobilizing for the environment

This year, the aim was to contextualize, enrich, and update the Political Agenda with an additional focus on environmental protection.

According to Miriam Suárez, director of Casa de la Mujer, this is one of the most interesting points of the new Agenda: the commitment of women's groups and organizations to climate change and the preservation of natural resources.

Thus, a total of six points were addressed during the meetings and are included in the new Agenda:

Democratization of power and political participation of women.

Cultural, symbolic and material dismantling of patriarchy.

Guarantees and conditions for the exercise of the right to live free from violence.

Autonomy and self-determination of women's bodies.

Economic autonomy for women, equitable access to resources, income, work, opportunities, recognition of their economic contribution and revaluation of domestic work.

Women, natural resources and climate change.

Following the six meetings, a closing event was held in July to review the proposals and establish priorities. These are some of the agreements and demands submitted to the Departmental Autonomous Government and other authorities with specific responsibilities:

Drafting internal regulations to guarantee true gender parity in the representation and hiring of public servants. Ensuring compliance with Law 243, against harassment and political violence.

Mobilization and defense of women unjustly criminalized for abortion-related reasons, and monitoring of Constitutional Ruling 206/14.

Include in the school curriculum the prevention of violence, the rejection of sexual harassment, and respect for cultural and gender diversity.

That sex education and guidance programs be disseminated and implemented throughout the department to prevent unwanted pregnancies.

Defense of labor rights, recognition of care work, and the work of lesbian, bisexual and trans women, free from discrimination and violence.

Instruct private companies to hire people of sexual orientations other than heterosexual, people with disabilities, people belonging to indigenous and Afro-descendant communities.

Information about the products we consume, rejection of agrochemicals and GMOs in our food.

Compliance with the laws that protect the forests that safeguard aquifers.

Information on how forest management plans are carried out and on solid waste treatment plans.

Declaration against all threats from the Rositas Hydroelectric Project.

Preservation of ancestral inherited knowledge to include it in Development Programs, within a framework of respect for nature and the environment.

For Miriam Suárez, director of Casa de la Mujer, the achievement of this new Political Agenda is "to ratify a commitment of women beyond any differences; the important thing is to find common ground that allows for an understanding and approach to the problems that affect us."