OCTOBER 2004

Indigenous Women Strengthen Their National and International Networks in Peru

Tarcila Zea Rivera, Executive Director, Chirapaq


In April we hosted the Fourth Continental Meeting of Indigenous Women, with 430 representatives from all 21 countries of the hemisphere.

Context

The context of our work in the first half of 2004 was the organization of the Fourth Continental Meeting of Indigenous Women. Our efforts were focused on fundraising, organization of the event and coordinating the full and active participation of indigenous women leaders of diverse experience, age and locale.

In the weeks following the meeting, our entire organizational team focused on post-meeting activities: debriefing, accounting, documenting and publishing the priorities identified at the Continental Meeting.

We’ve now entered a third phase dedicated to promoting the recommendations from the Continental Meeting through Andean and Amazonian women leaders of Peru. A workshop on this was held September 4-8, 2004 with the participation of 120 women leaders from diverse parts of the country.

Results of the Fourth Continental Meeting

  • The Fourth Continental Meeting brought together 430 indigenous women representing 21 nation-states of the Americas.
  • Financing for 300 international participants was obtained, with 150 complete scholarships and 150 partial scholarships.
  • 130 participants covered all their own costs - an unexpected outcome that validated the importance of the meeting.
  • 60 Andean and Amazonian women leaders from Peru participated in The Fourth Meeting.
  • We achieved great media coverage with the publication of interviews and news articles in the local press, radial programs, the local and international TV like Univisión. Basque TV, Agencies of the News, EFE and IPS.
  • We created strategic alliances with UN agencies such as UNIFEM, UNFPA, UNESCO, and others to work jointly in the fight against inequality.
  • Recognition was obtained and high-profile support from the UNFPA for Latin America and the Caribbean. In addition we received:
  • Letter of recommendation to The Fourth Meeting by the Director of the UN Economic and Social Council.
  • Letters of greeting from Nobel Peace Prize laureates Rigoberta Menchú and Adolph Perez Esquivel.
  • Letters of greeting and support from ministers and civil employees of Peru.
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    Traditional ceremony by the Mexico delegation

    Results of our Workshop to Promote the Outcomes of the Fourth Continental Meeting with National Women Leaders of Peru

  • 120 women leaders of 22 organizations, Andean and Amazonian, throughout the country participated, analyzing, reflecting and taking control of the recommendations of the Fourth Continental Meeting.
  • We incorporated 15 new, young women leaders in this process.
  • We formulated a Regional Plan of Action of the Indigenous Women of the Andes and Amazonía.
  • We formulate a Plan of National Action of the Indigenous Women of Peru.
  • We exchanged experiences with the Institute for the Defense of Indigenous Women of Guatemala - our special guests.

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    Promoting the outcomes in the media

  • We held a press conference with all the participants.
  • 240 reporters attended the press conference.
  • We presented the priorities of the Plan of Action of the Indigenous Women to the media and general public.
  • National mass media widely published our proposals.
  • 2 Congressmen accompanied us at the Press conference.
  • The representative of the UNFPA-Peru expressed support for implementing the Plan of Action.

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    Bolivia delegation

    Conclusion

    Our partnership with The Hunger Project is empowering us to advance the visibility and political profile of indigenous women both nationally and internationally.

    An important recognition of our work is that we have been appointed to coordinate the Continental Network-South America Region, making us the recognized spokespeople on indigenous women and indigenous communities.

  • We succeeded in getting the indigenous issue on the agenda of the Population and Development Conference in Puerto Rico, June 28 to July 3, 2004.
  • We contributed to making an impact leading to a partnership of UN agencies supporting the priorities of the indigenous women of Central America , Mexico September 23-35, 2004.
  • We are participating in institutionalizing the Continental Network of Indigenous Women through proposing appropriate statutes and regulations.