Renewed Women’s Voice and Leadership – Guatemala
OTTAWA – Oxfam Canada is deeply grateful for the renewed support from Global Affairs Canada in advancing the Women’s Voice and Leadership (WVL) program, a key initiative under Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP). This program is pivotal in supporting women’s rights organizations (WROs) and LGBTQI+ groups working tirelessly to promote gender equality and the rights of women and girls globally.
In Guatemala, Oxfam has partnered with Tz’ununija’, an Indigenous women’s movement made up of 85 Indigenous women’s rights organizations (IWROs) from across the country. Tz’ununija’ represents the diverse geographic, ethnic, linguistic, and cultural backgrounds of Indigenous women in Guatemala.
The Women’s Voice and Leadership-Guatemala program (September 2019 – March 2023) achieved significant progress in strengthening Tz’ununija’ and its member IWROs. The program galvanized their collective action, agency, and voice, empowering them to promote the inalienable rights of Indigenous women. As a result, Tz’ununija’ and 28 prioritized IWROs have seen expanded outreach and increased participation in decision-making spaces. Over 1,000 women have directly benefited from trainings, healing sessions, and efforts to reduce violence and racism, which disproportionately affect Indigenous women. Additionally, allied Ancestral Authorities are now actively involved in the prevention, response, and care of cases of violence against Indigenous women.
On the international stage, Tz’ununija’ made significant contributions by responding to a call from the CEDAW (Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women) committee, which led to the creation of the 39th Recommendation. This recommendation, approved in October 2022, serves as a crucial guide for states to ensure the protection of Indigenous women’s individual and collective rights.
Despite these advancements, systemic racial discrimination and violence continue to undermine the rights and safety of Indigenous women in Guatemala. The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) highlighted in its 2023 Annual Report that racial discrimination, continues to hinder the full enjoyment of human rights by Indigenous, Garifuna, and Afro-descendant communities in Guatemala.
Indigenous women remain particularly vulnerable to violence and racism, which is often perpetuated by institutionalized discrimination. Challenges persist, including inadequate knowledge of legal protocols by public officials and Indigenous authorities, delayed and culturally irrelevant services, and discriminatory practices within the Attorney General’s Office and the Judicial Branch. These challenges are further exacerbated for Indigenous LGBTQI+ individuals.
In response to these ongoing challenges, the cost extension of the Women’s Voice and Leadership program will build on the successes of the first phase. The extension will continue to strengthen the management and sustainability of Indigenous women’s rights organizations, particularly those serving marginalized Indigenous women, including young women and Indigenous LGBTQI+ people.
The program will focus on improving the advocacy and programming of IWROs to prevent, respond to, and reduce violence and racism against Indigenous women and LGBTQI+ individuals. Survivors of violence will continue to receive holistic care, including psychosocial support, healing, and legal advice rooted in Indigenous cosmologies. These initiatives will be expanded across 36 local IWROs linked to Tz’ununija’ in key departments such as Alta and Baja Verapaz, Chimaltenango, Totonicapán, Quiché, and Izabal.
Tz’ununija’ will also continue to leverage its powerful alliances with Indigenous organizations from Bolivia, Colombia, Canada, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and the United States. These alliances were instrumental in organizing the III Summit of Indigenous Women of Abya Yala and will continue to drive collective action to promote and implement the rights of Indigenous women and girls globally.
With renewed support from Global Affairs Canada, Oxfam and its partners are committed to ensuring that Indigenous women’s voices are heard, their rights are protected, and their futures are shaped by their agency and leadership.
Contact information
Laveza Khan | | 613-240-4157