From 24 to 31 March, the Executive Board of UN Women made an official visit to Bolivia to gain insights into the impact of programmes and deepen its understanding of the challenges around women's rights. The visit highlighted the progress made and strengthened key alliances with state institutions, civil society, and new strategic actors.
The delegation was led by the Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Uganda to the UN, Godfrey Kwoba, on behalf of the President of the Board, accompanied by vice-president, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Kyrgyz Republic, Aida Kasymalieva, Ambassador, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Dominican Republic to the UN and Executive Board Member of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean Region, Alejandra Hernández González Ambassador, Minister Counsellor at the Belgian Permanent Mission to the UN in New York, Filip de Maesschalck, and Celia Nabeta, Minister Counsellor at the Ugandan Permanent Mission, as well as the UN Women Regional Director for the Americas and the Caribbean, and the Secretary of the Executive Board. The main purpose of the visit was to learn firsthand about the organization's work in the country focusing on public policies on gender equality.
The Executive Board held high-level meetings with national authorities, including the President of the Plurinational Legislative Assembly, the Attorney General, and ministers from tourism - culture - gastronomy, productive development, plural economy. These meetings allowed for the exchange of views on the challenges and opportunities to advance the gender equality agenda in Bolivia.
The delegation engaged in broad dialogue with the Ombudsman, as well as with autonomous institutions like the Agency for Electronic Government and Information and Communication Technologies (AGETIC) and the Plurinational Service for Women and the Depatriarchalization (SEPMUD), with whom UN Women has collaborated closely for several years, fostering ongoing partnerships to advance gender equality and women's rights.
A important meeting was held with Jéssica Echeverría, Vice Minister of Equal Opportunities, a leading authority in advancing policies for women's empowerment in the country.
The Executive Board also held meetings with indigenous government officials and private sector representatives, further broadening the dialogue to include essential stakeholders for inclusive and sustainable development. These sessions allowed for the identification of opportunities for collaboration to promote women's economic autonomy and strengthen their participation in various fields.
Meetings with 17 civil society groups, religious leaders, community promoters, and local authorities offered valuable insights into Bolivia's situation and highlighted UN Women's efforts to address gender equality gaps.
During the visit, the Board also had the opportunity to travel to the departments of Sucre and Santa Cruz, where they witnessed firsthand projects supported by UN Women. These field visits showcased concrete results of initiatives in diverse territories, as well as the direct impact on women's lives.
UN Women's efforts in Bolivia have played a pivotal role in crafting intervention strategies and practical approaches to close gender disparities. Notable progress includes strengthening institutions to better address urgent matters such as gender-based violence, increasing women's participation in politics, and overcoming obstacles to economic autonomy.
As part of the visit, the Executive Board held exchanges with the diplomatic corps on key priorities and actions to advance gender equality in Bolivia and met with the United Nations Country Team under the leadership of UN Resident Coordinator Anna Marttinen-Pont.
The visit concluded with a meeting with Fernando Aramayo, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bolivia, who expressed appreciation for the strategic support of UN Women Bolivia and reaffirmed the Government's commitment to continuing efforts to advance gender equality in the country. The Executive Board expressed their unwavering support for ongoing advancements that foster a more equitable and inclusive society for all women and girls.
