Local Democracy Talk: Violence and discrimination As a Barrier
On 17 September 2024, municipalities from Colombia, Guatemala, and Sweden, all part of the Gender Equality Network, gathered in Umeå, Sweden, to prepare for their upcoming municipal partnership application. As part of the week’s events, an ICLD Local Democracy Talk was organized together with Umeå Municipality. The talk explored challenges related to women’s political participation, particularly among marginalised groups
After an insightful introduction by moderator Annika Dalén from Umeå Municipality, the “Local Democracy Talk: Violence and Discrimination As a Barrier – Addressing Challenges for Advancing Women’s Political Participation and Decision Making” commenced with key note speakers. Jennie Brandén, Associated professor from Umeå University, opened the session by delivering a powerful presentation on the challenges faced by Sami women, particularly the widespread issue of violence and the systematic obstacles that make addressing it difficult.
“The issue of violence against Sami women is made invisible and described as difficult to address – both in the Sámi society and in the majority society,” Jennie said.
Next, Juan Diego Duque-Salazar, a PhD candidate from Uppsala University, addressed the prevailing gender disparities in political campaigns in Colombia and the hardships for women to pursue a political career. Juan Diego presented research on women’s experiences of violence during political campaigns and found that there are several actors involved, however the largest actors responsible are oppositional parties and oppositional voters:
“This again confirms that as electoral competition becomes more difficult, there is more violence,” Juan Diego said.
On the left Jennie Brandén and to the right Juan Diego Duque-Salazar. Photo: ICLD
Vulnerability of minorities in focus during panel discussion
A variety of panelists participated in the discussions, including Elida Leticia Mátzar Churunel, an alternate councilor and coordinator in Panajachel’s municipal social development office. She shared her personal experiences as a Kaqchikel woman participating in political forums.
-“As women, we suffer discrimination, and double discrimination, one for being women, the other for being indigenous women, because they see us as not having the opportunity to be in decision-making areas,” explains Leticia.
Leticia also pointed out that Machismo, which refers to an attitude or behaviour with a traditional view of masculinity and rigid gender roles, is another significant factor in Guatemalan society that perpetuates these behaviours.
Lena Maria Nilsson, a sami woman president of the Sami Association in Umeå, expressed that there’s been some recent initiatives aimed at increasing the inclusion of Sami people in decision-making. However, she argued that more could be done to further enhance the advancement of indigenous groups’ participation in politics.
“We need a forum for dialogue, we talk a lot about artificial intelligence, I think we need an equal space for traditional intelligence, that means we need dialogue over cultures,” Lena Maria states.
The panel discussions highlighted the overlapping struggles faced by marginalized groups approach their challenges. Both Lena Maria and Leticia shared personal experiences of exclusion, highlighting the added difficulties indigenous women encounter.
Building on the discussions of gender and indigenous rights, Dennis Petersson, Operations Manager at Allaktivitetshusen, Malmö City, Sweden, emphasized strategies for addressing the distinctive needs and difficulties by various groups:
“The first step to work with these processes is to make sure that all the people you meet, have the same knowledge about which rights they have and which ways to go to enforce them,” Dennis expresses.
Examples that were brought up, include conventions such as Agenda 2030 and the Convention on the Rights of the child, which are international agreements created to address and give specific groups their rights. Nonetheless, mentioning these conventions and the constituted right is not the end of the matter. Dennis further emphasizes the need for a consistent reminder and follow-up when dealing with these issues in democratic settings.
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