Indigenous Women’s Struggle for Equality in Colombia and Guatemala
This roadmap provides a strategic framework for the local governments of Leticia and Panajachel to bridge the gap between legal commitments and the meaningful political influence of Indigenous women. Although current regulatory frameworks for women’s participation in Colombia and Guatemala have strengthened formal mechanisms and created participatory spaces to promote gender equity, a wide gap persists between mere presence in governance spaces and the exercise of
genuine decision-making power.
This publication provides practical tools to dismantle the “invisible anchors” that prevent Indigenous women from influencing policymaking within their territories.
Today, transforming social norms is one of the most important strategic levers for policy. Addressing these norms is essential to move beyond “presence without power” toward a democracy that transforms gender roles and strengthens the multi-ethnic and multicultural identities of Indigenous women within their communities.