APRIL 2005 - REPORT TO THE GLOBAL BOARD

Chirapaq in Peru: Strengthening Indigenous Women’s Leadership Nationally and Internationally – January through March 2005

From:   Tarcila Rivera Zea, Director, Chirapaq, Peru

Introduction

During 2004, following The Hunger Project’s first Latin American Regional Strategy Conference – and Chirapaq’s successful hosting of the Fourth Continental Conference of Indigenous Women, the partnership between The Hunger Project and Chirapaq was expanded to further strengthen the voice of indigenous women as the key change agents for improving the lives of the people.

Accomplishments during the past quarter

1.Quechuas Women Organized to Promote Sustainable Agriculture to ensure the food security of Project Vilcashuamán, which began in January 2005.

• Two participative workshops were completed to make people aware of the situation and priorities of food security with 60 identified leaders.
• The strengthening of organization capacity of women from eight neighborhoods from the Vilcashuamán District in Ayacucho, including training about raising of baby livestock, such as chickens, bio-gardens and the and using Andean crops for nutrition. Directly, 60 female leaders benefited, and indirectly 551 families benefited. These families consist of four to five children, with the head of the household being a woman due to the political violence that occurred in this district in the 1980s.
• These activities were coordinated with the support of the Municipal government and its organizations.
• The Indigenous Woman Program supports the organization of and training about Rights in conjunction with THP.

2. The Southern Network Planning Workshop

Between February 3^rd and 7^th, the International Workshop to Plan the Continental Network of Indigenous Women for the Region of South America came to fruition as a result of our coordination and responsibility. 

• 26 delegates attended, representing national organizations from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru and Ecuador.
• From this workshop, a timeline of proposed activities for the Southern Network was produced.
• The result was an agreement to strengthen the organizational training in Rights and Follow-up Forums about our Rights.

3.       Training in International Instruments

In accord with our programming for the month of February we held a workshop about the Right of Indigenous Women in Cusco:

• 18 Andean and Amazonian women leaders participated in analyzing, discussing and formulating proposals for the CEDAW meeting and discussing Racism and Discrimination.
• We held a public forum about Indigenous women, Human Rights and Political Inclusions that had 300 attendees.
• The University of Cusco was a co-organizer with the National Culture Institute.
• Public attendees participated fully in the discussion.  

4. Indigenous Women and the Media

The Radio Program Quechua Castellano in Ayacucho, Sapinchikmanta, is in progress with:

• 8 transmitted radio programs
• Themes about identity and human rights
• 23 indigenous commentators with credentials
• 3 commentators are interviewed and the program is aired on external stations
• 2 commentators discuss on the air details about the workshops related to the Indigenous Women Program
• The Documentation Center obtained multiple copies of the CD Indigenous Women, “Feeling, Thinking and Doing”
• The Wayra is elaborated
• The process of classification and organization of information at the CENDOC continues
• As an international activity, they participate in the Connectivity Forum in Canada from March 12 to 15^th, contributing with proposals for the Summit on the Information Society.

5. Participation in Beijing+10

A large delegation of indigenous women from around the world participated in the Beijing + 10 Meetings in New York, and presented a common agenda in a resolution to the session. Prior to the meetings start, Chirapaq’s representatives participated in a training workshop on advocacy with international organizations

During the Beijing Plus 10 meetings, Chirapaq, The Hunger Project and Madre, a women’s rights organization headquartered in New York, organized a session on indigenous women that was very well attended.

Conclusions

Here we have discussed the principal activities that have been carried out with the support of THP, which sustains 80 percent of the Actions of the Indigenous Women’s Program, within which the Chirapaq Director also carries out her responsibilities as leader of the Continental Network of Indigenous Women from the South American region, obliging her to share her time between the operative and policy advocacy components.