Today, we women celebrate the approval of the Law Against Political Harassment and Violence Toward Women – a historical step toward consolidating democracy in Bolivia, following some 12 years of efforts to pass this law, headed by the Association of Bolivian Councilwomen (ACOBOL) and various institutions and organizations committed to defending women’s rights.
This law is a fundamental tool in preventing, addressing and punishing acts of political harassment and/or violence toward women in order to guarantee the full exercise of their political rights, protecting all women candidates, elected and designated officials or those exercising a political or public role. Given the magnitude of this issue in Bolivia, this law will be a strategic mechanism in confronting the patriarchal barriers that continue to breach the right to equal political participation.
Over 4,000 accusations have occurred and many victims’ voices have been silenced along the path to the law’s approval. It is important to remember those who have lost their lives without receiving the protection of this law, in particular Juana Quispe, who was brutally murdered just a few weeks ago.
This highlights the value of women authorities who daily face threats, psychological and/or physical violence and still continue to defend the exercise of their democratic mandate.
We congratulate men and women legislators and the two women presidents of the Chamber of Deputies and Senators (Rebeca Delgado and Gabriela Montaño) for having consolidated this common demand that had been delayed for so long by former legislatures.
We urge the Electoral Court, Judicial Body and all competent entities to assume their role in socializing and implementing this law in order to guarantee women’s political and civil rights.
We declare ourselves monitors for this law’s implementation and compliance.
Women’s Coordinator, Federation of Eastern Bolivian Indigenous Peoples (CIDOB), Federation of National Indigenous Women of Bolivia (CNAMIB), National Council of Ayllus and Markas of Qullasusyu (CONAMAQ), Union Federation of Women from Bolivian Intercultural Communities (CSMCIB), Association of Bolivian Ecological Producers Organizations (AOPEB), Federation of Bolivian Coffee Exporters (FECAFEB), National Federation of Bolivian Domestic Workers (FENATRAHOB), National Federation of Bolivian Mining Cooperatives (FENCOMIN), Regional Federation of Gold Mining Cooperatives (FERRECO), Afro-Bolivian Center for Integral and Community Development (CADIC), Freelance Workers Federation (CNTPCP), La Paz Foundation, Gregoria Apaza Center for Women’s Promotion (CPMGA), Training and Service Center for Women’s Integration (CECASEM), Organization of Aimara Women from Kollasuyo (OMAK), Women’s Integral Training Institute (IFFI), Juana Azurduy Center, Women’s House, Training and Research Center for Rural Women in Tarija (CCIMCAT), Intermediate Technology Center (CEDETI), Alternative Communication with Women Team (ECAM), Tomás Katari Polytechnic Institute (IPTK), Center for Rural Research and Promotion (CIPCA), Coordinator for Women in Beni (COOMUJER), Rural Support and Research Center (CIAC), Women in Action (Mujers en Acción), PROGENERO, Integral Training Center for the Rural Woman (CCIMCA), Help and Support Center for Women and Children (CAMN), Tahipamu, Center for Research, Education and Services Sexual and Reproductive Health (CIES), Corporation for Research and Social and Economic Action (CIASE), Integral Health Coordination Program (PROCOSI), PROMUJER, Association of Promotion and Education Institutions (AIPE).
Today, we women celebrate the approval of the Law Against Political Harassment and Violence Toward Women – a historical step toward consolidating democracy in Bolivia, following some 12 years of efforts to pass this law, headed by the Association of Bolivian Councilwomen (ACOBOL) and various institutions and organizations committed to defending women’s rights.
This law is a fundamental tool in preventing, addressing and punishing acts of political harassment and/or violence toward women in order to guarantee the full exercise of their political rights, protecting all women candidates, elected and designated officials or those exercising a political or public role. Given the magnitude of this issue in Bolivia, this law will be a strategic mechanism in confronting the patriarchal barriers that continue to breach the right to equal political participation.
Over 4,000 accusations have occurred and many victims’ voices have been silenced along the path to the law’s approval. It is important to remember those who have lost their lives without receiving the protection of this law, in particular Juana Quispe, who was brutally murdered just a few weeks ago.
This highlights the value of women authorities who daily face threats, psychological and/or physical violence and still continue to defend the exercise of their democratic mandate.
We congratulate men and women legislators and the two women presidents of the Chamber of Deputies and Senators (Rebeca Delgado and Gabriela Montaño) for having consolidated this common demand that had been delayed for so long by former legislatures.
We urge the Electoral Court, Judicial Body and all competent entities to assume their role in socializing and implementing this law in order to guarantee women’s political and civil rights.
We declare ourselves monitors for this law’s implementation and compliance.
Women’s Coordinator, Federation of Eastern Bolivian Indigenous Peoples (CIDOB), Federation of National Indigenous Women of Bolivia (CNAMIB), National Council of Ayllus and Markas of Qullasusyu (CONAMAQ), Union Federation of Women from Bolivian Intercultural Communities (CSMCIB), Association of Bolivian Ecological Producers Organizations (AOPEB), Federation of Bolivian Coffee Exporters (FECAFEB), National Federation of Bolivian Domestic Workers (FENATRAHOB), National Federation of Bolivian Mining Cooperatives (FENCOMIN), Regional Federation of Gold Mining Cooperatives (FERRECO), Afro-Bolivian Center for Integral and Community Development (CADIC), Freelance Workers Federation (CNTPCP), La Paz Foundation, Gregoria Apaza Center for Women’s Promotion (CPMGA), Training and Service Center for Women’s Integration (CECASEM), Organization of Aimara Women from Kollasuyo (OMAK), Women’s Integral Training Institute (IFFI), Juana Azurduy Center, Women’s House, Training and Research Center for Rural Women in Tarija (CCIMCAT), Intermediate Technology Center (CEDETI), Alternative Communication with Women Team (ECAM), Tomás Katari Polytechnic Institute (IPTK), Center for Rural Research and Promotion (CIPCA), Coordinator for Women in Beni (COOMUJER), Rural Support and Research Center (CIAC), Women in Action (Mujers en Acción), PROGENERO, Integral Training Center for the Rural Woman (CCIMCA), Help and Support Center for Women and Children (CAMN), Tahipamu, Center for Research, Education and Services Sexual and Reproductive Health (CIES), Corporation for Research and Social and Economic Action (CIASE), Integral Health Coordination Program (PROCOSI), PROMUJER, Association of Promotion and Education Institutions (AIPE).