Political and Economic Empowerment of Indigenous Rural Women and Educational Communities to Promote Local Participation and Advocacy Against School and Gender-Based Violence in the Municipality of Cko-chas, Potosí, Bolivia

IPTK

Justification

This project contributes to reducing gender inequalities, school and domestic violence, and the social exclusion of indigenous and rural women. It promotes their political and economic empowerment, local production, and cultural identity. The project fosters the exercise of women’s rights and the prevention of violence through collaboration with local authorities, educational institutions, and families, while strengthening public policies through local networks.

Location

Ckochas (Bolivia)

Local Partner

IPTK

Objectives

Overall Objective: To contribute to reducing gender inequalities, school and domestic violence, and the social exclusion of indigenous and rural women by promoting the participation of educational communities and public and private institutions, thereby ensuring the full exercise of their rights—including the right to a life free from violence, as well as their political, economic, and social rights—in the municipality of Ckochas.

Specific Objective:

To promote the active participation and political advocacy of indigenous and rural women in Ckochas, in coordination with educational communities, in order to guarantee their right to a life free from gender-based violence and full access to their social, economic, and political rights. This will be achieved by strengthening their personal, political, and economic empowerment, in line with the principles of sustainability and the social economy, enhancing their leadership, and supporting the implementation of existing municipal regulations.

Target Population

(160 men and 273 women)

Project Duration

Budget

Funding:

TAU, Bilbao City Council (70.000€)

Activities:

  • Coordination and planning with women producers’ associations, women’s organizations, educational communities, and local institutions.
  • Refurbishment and equipment of production centres to strengthen the productive capacities of women’s associations.
  • Technical training in handicraft production and manufacturing, together with business management, costing, marketing, and soft skills.
  • Awareness-raising activities with male partners and men on shared responsibility, positive masculinities, and the care economy.
  • Exchange of experiences among productive associations and participation in trade fairs to promote the marketing of their products.
  • Strengthening women’s leadership through training on rights, leadership, personal development, organizational strengthening, conflict resolution, and a culture of peace.
  • Mentoring women leaders to support their participation in planning and decision-making spaces, as well as in the development of feminist agendas and advocacy initiatives.
  • Preparation and dissemination of communication materials on women’s rights and the prevention of gender-based violence.
  • Delivery of workshops, recreational activities, and artistic initiatives in schools to prevent school and gender-based violence.
  • Training for teachers, educational staff, parents, and guardians on the prevention, identification, response, and referral of cases of violence.
  • Provision of psychological counselling and support to students and families affected by situations of violence.
  • Strengthening local governance through coordination among women’s organizations, public institutions, and the Network for Combating Gender-Based Violence, promoting the implementation of gender-responsive public policies and the exchange of good practices.