Estela Maris Álvarez is one of these women who have decided to stand up and beat the odds, challenging the abuse and discrimination they face both within and outside their communities. Álvarez is a member of the Enxet people, an indigenous group in Paraguay's Chaco region, an area of semi-arid grasslands and thorny forests. She lives in La Herencia, a community in the western part of the country, located 340 km from Asunción."It's not easy for an indigenous woman to access a decision-making position in her community," she said, recalling how when she started taking on a leadership role, she was never invited by the tribal chiefs to the important meetings. "But that didn’t stop me from going," she added.
To read the complete story please visit IPS News.
Estela Maris Álvarez is one of these women who have decided to stand up and beat the odds, challenging the abuse and discrimination they face both within and outside their communities. Álvarez is a member of the Enxet people, an indigenous group in Paraguay's Chaco region, an area of semi-arid grasslands and thorny forests. She lives in La Herencia, a community in the western part of the country, located 340 km from Asunción."It's not easy for an indigenous woman to access a decision-making position in her community," she said, recalling how when she started taking on a leadership role, she was never invited by the tribal chiefs to the important meetings. "But that didn’t stop me from going," she added.
To read the complete story please visit IPS News.