Programme description

Title: Eliminating Social Exclusion
Commissioned by: European Commission
Country: Guatemala
Lead executing agency: Coordination Office of the Presidential Commission on Human Rights (COPREDEH)
Overall term: March 2006 to December 2008

Context

Despite international agreements such as the Vienna Declaration or national treaties such as the 1996 peace agreements, gender inequality is still deeply ingrained in Guatemalan society. Indigenous women (Maya, Garífuna, Xinca) in rural areas are hardest hit by gender discrimination. The political balance within the society is extremely asymmetric, so that these women's concerns are scarcely articulated: the situation is exacerbated by the remoteness of these areas, which are located far from political centres.
This situation is legitimised by accepted roles in the public as well as the private spheres of life. The Guatemalan government has responded to these shortcomings with a definition of its “policy for the promotion and development of Guatemalan women”, which is coordinated by the Presidential Secretariat for Women (SEPREM). A National Forum for Women (FNM) and the Indigenous Development Fund (FODIGUA) have also been established. Despite this, public institutions continue to exhibit insufficiencies on all levels in regard to gender equity.
The project is to help the few women who are politically active to become better integrated into the political process. The efforts of these women to ensure conformity to international and national agreements are to be supported.

Objective

The overall objective is promotion of the social, economic and political integration of poor – especially indigenous – women living in rural areas. Thus the capacities of the main governmental institutions, the congress and civil society organisations are to be strengthened in regard to ensuring the inclusion of women.

Approach

The programme focuses on fostering the organisation of government and aims at strengthening and modernising institutions as well as improving their performance. Social change is a key issue.

The following steps are being undertaken to realise the objectives: