Participants at the meeting |
In the framework of the project “Support to Strengthen the Quito Consensus for Women’s Empowerment,” implemented by UN-INSTRAW and financed by AECID, support is being given to the strengthening process of the Network of Associations of Women Leaders Elected to Local Governments in Latin America and the Caribbean (Lamugol Network). The first consultative meeting was held in Quito, Ecuador, with the objective of formulating strategic, operational and lobbying plans for the Network.
The Lamugol Network is a space for regional, horizontal, common cause, plural, and democratic dialogue and for the promotion of rights and obligations relating to Latin American women elected to municipal governments. The Network was created as a result of the “Latin American Meeting of Elected Women Leaders,” (held in Quito on 6-7 November 2008) gathers fourteen associations of women elected to local governments in the Latin American and Caribbean region, three of which are in the developing phase. See the Quito Consensus.
María Arboleda, Technical Consultant for UN-INSTRAW, who has extensive professional experience in the instrumental application of the gender perspective in issues related to strategic planning, political participation, leadership, lobbying, policies for gender equality and decentralization, consulted and received suggestions and analysis from the members of the coordinating team, formed by: Hilda Herrera from the Association of Women in Municipal Governments of Ecuador (AMUME); Sandra Rojas, from the National Network of Women in Executive Positions in Peru (RENAMA) representing the Andean Region; Mercedes Moya from the Network of Municipal Women of Costa Rica (RECOMM) representing Central America and the Dominican Republic, and María Loreto from the Chilean Association of South Cone Municipalities.
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The latest version of the statutes was presented at the working session, while its legal framework is being formulated by AMUME, the entity presiding the temporary coordination of the Network.
Another issue discussed at the meeting was the use of information-communication technologies (ICTs) as important tools for maintaining interregional communication. The virtual Network’s page was also presented at the meeting.
Nielsen Pérez, coordinator of the UN-INSTRAW Project “Support to Strengthening the Quito Consensus for Women’s Empowerment,” participated by means of a web conference to alert the Network about the creation of strategies to confront the challenges that should be accepted (such as lobbying for the promotion of human rights of women leaders elected to local governments, strengthening of their organization and their association at regional and global level, as well as the development of local policies for gender equality).
As a follow-up to the meeting, other consultative meetings will be held during August, September and October with the regional offices of Central America and the Dominican Republic, and Andean and South Cone respectively.
The specialized technical assistance for the preparation of the Agenda or Strategic and Operational Plan, as well as the Lobbying Plan of the Lamugol Network, assumes that women have had a series of experiences and have the necessary knowledge to improve other processes and actions amongst its peers. Therefore, the main objective of this specialized technical assistance is to improve knowledge, capacities and abilities, but never to substitute political actions of women authorities elected to local governments.
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