WOMANKIND has been supporting women in Bolivia since 2004.
We work in partnership with a number of women's organisations under the umbrella of Coordinadora de la Mujer to promote women's civil and political participation and address issues regarding violence against women. The focus is on enabling women's voices to be heard at both local and national level helping give women the skills and resources they need to play an active and decisive part within their families, their communities and their country. We have developed a new programme (2006-2009) that will focus on some of Bolivia's most marginalised communities, including peasant and indigenous women, and seeks to address issues concerning the social exclusion of women, particularly in La Paz and El Alto.
Making A Difference: The impact of our work
WOMANKIND's partnership programme will touch the lives of many of Bolivia's poorest and most vulnerable women, providing practical support and assistance to:
- Teach women about their human and civil rights and help them lobby for change within their communities
- Maintain their bodily integrity through sexual and reproductive health campaigns and rights awareness
- Provide support and counselling for those women who are victims of violence
- Challenge and change attitudes and behaviours regarding violence against women
- Build women's own capacity to become leaders and participate in decision-making at all levels, ensuring their needs and concerns are heard and addressed
- Giving women access to legal and social support services, enabling them to address and refer cases of domestic violence to the appropriate authorities
- Supporting women's own leadership development and ability to lobby for their specific demands
- Raising awareness of issues regarding discrimination against women and campaigning for change
- Lobbying for their country's clearer focus on women's rights and freedoms at all levels locally and nationally
Why Bolivia? 