Women in Dev
  • Menu Canvas
    • Home
    • About
    • Events
    • Jobs
    • Subscribe
Women in Dev
  • Home
  • About
  • Jobs
  • Blog
  • Events
  • Subscribe

¡Párala Ya! – How Community Leadership is Combatting “Machismo” in Colombia

Homepage News Opinion ¡Párala Ya! - How Community Leadership is Combatting “Machismo” in Colombia
Opinion

¡Párala Ya! – How Community Leadership is Combatting “Machismo” in Colombia

May 2, 2022
By admin
1 Comment
2617 Views

This story focuses on the city of Valledupar in North-East Colombia. The city is an important hub for agricultural and agro-industrial production and one of the main musical, cultural, and folkloric epicentres of Colombia. It is also, however, a region marked by violence: from armed conflict on the streets to “machismo” at home.

The word is that all of the country’s illegal armed groups have had a territorial presence here, which has a continued impact on the civilian population and unprecedentedly on women and girls. The patriarchal culture of “machismo” is the daily bread, and violence against women is rampant, with 12 femicides reported in 2021 alone, and 4 reported in January-February 2022.

This issue is linked to a wide range of long-term physical and mental health problems, especially for women, while restricting the fundamental participation of women in the community. This proposes an obstacle to achieving an equitable and fully democratic society.

However, just over a decade ago, local women were determined to transform this reality. By exercising the power of collective community leadership, they were able to participate as social actors and make a change within the region. This positive influence began with the approval of Law 1257 in 2008: the law that protects women’s rights by establishing rules for awareness, prevention, and punishment of forms of violence and discrimination against women. Women have since been called to learn about the law and what their rights are.

However, just over a decade ago, local women were determined to transform this reality. By exercising the power of collective community leadership, they were able to participate as social actors and make a change within the region.

¡Párala Ya!

At the end of a cycle of training on the topic, it was decided that a network should be created: ¡Párala Ya! Nada justifica las violencias contra las mujeres (Stop it Now! Nothing justifies violence against women). The members of this network – labelled “spokespeople,” were from myriad social and cultural backgrounds; Black and indigenous people, agricultural workers, and those from different educational levels. These courageous women and allies carried out their social activism via resistance and peacebuilding in insecure contexts to make substantive change within their community, especially for the lives of women and girls. The impact of this network in the city of Valledupar has also spread to several municipalities in the wider region.

Their work fights to shift entrenched socio-cultural norms and behaviours, all in the knowledge that the only way to transform a society culturally is by listening to the diverse perspectives of its citizens.

Their activities include educational training sessions about violence against women, political advocacy, and peaceful protests:

Training Sessions

¡Párala Ya! Nada justifica las violencias contra las mujeres conducts training sessions on violence against women to give the issue more visibility, as well as to amplify the narrative about prevention and the relevant legislation (2008’s Law 1257). These sessions are carried out in myriad educational facilities, including technical colleges and the legal clinics of both private and public universities, so that future lawyers can adopt a gendered perspective in their work. The same is done in the villages. In these cases, the sessions are not necessarily held in an auditorium, but under trees in the backyard of women who express their interest in taking this initiative to their territory.

They also organise forums with journalists from the televised and written media to encourage the use of gender-sensitive reporting in stories related to violence against women and girls. Examples of better practices include avoiding offender passivity and pathologisation via headlines such as “I killed her out of jealousy” or “a crime of passion.”

Political Advocacy

The network also led the construction of the regional political agenda for women, which is a document resulting from the participatory planning exercise of women and their municipal organisational processes during sub-regional meetings, based on their problems, needs, and interests. With this exercise, women’s perspectives were included in the gender component of the departmental development plan and that of the municipality of Valledupar.

Peaceful Protests

Finally, the network is known for peaceful protests. Amongst other activities, they organise sit-ins in front of the local Prosecutor’s Office in Valledupar. For instance, in 2015 they silently, and with signs in hand, demanded that the judicial authorities comply with 2008’s 1257 Law (which prohibits and punishes violence against women) as well as compliance with 2012’s 1542 Law (which eliminates the character of the crime of domestic violence as actionable and dismissable, so that these types of crimes can no longer be belittled.)

Conclusion

This is an ongoing success story, demonstrating the power of resistance and community leadership for deep-rooted cultural and political change. This work demonstrated the fact that this level of societal transformation must involve the unquestionable support of all sectors – public, private, academia, unions, and civil society.

Today, the media – radio, television, and print – are used to promoting 2008´s 1257 Law. Forums are held with the candidates for mayor of Valledupar, so that they are aware of the Network and sensitised to issues affecting women. Femicides, as well as physical and sexual violence, are made visible with their own names to overcome indifference and impunity. And the brave leaders of the ¡Párala Ya! network are now recognised for their contributions to processes of resistance and peacebuilding in everyday life.

This is an ongoing success story, demonstrating the power of resistance and community leadership for deep-rooted cultural and political change.


Beatriz Ramírez David

Beatriz Ramírez David has more than 20 years of experience as a facilitator and consultant on gender issues, women’s empowerment, equal rights, and social work with communities at high risk of vulnerability.

She is an international speaker and panelist on gender, women, social inclusion and peacebuilding, Ambassador for Women Leading Latin America, Global Ambassador NERDS RULE INC, Founder of Fundación Unidas: Mujeres Construyendo Tejido Social, Co-founder of the ¡Párala Ya! network, International Coordinator of the Women’s Empowerment Commission at OMIS, and Global Director of the Commission for the Promotion of Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women and Girls of Global Compact Women Leaders.


versión en español

Tags: Build Back Better COVID-19 Global Count Reset Violence Against Women

Previous Story
Women in Dev 2021 End-of-Year Review
Next Story
¡Párala Ya! – Cómo el liderazgo colectivo está combatiendo el machismo en Colombia

Related Articles

¡Párala Ya! - Cómo el liderazgo colectivo está combatiendo el machismo en Colombia

Esta es una historia de éxito en curso, que demuestra...

A photograph of women captured networking at Women in Dev conference

Women in Dev 2021 End-of-Year Review

Over the course of 2021, the Women in Dev network...

1 reply added

  1. Belisario Nieto May 5, 2022

    Beatriz thank you for sending me the article, clear and we’ll written. The machismo is embedded in every single aspect of society, so good luck with the initiative.

Comments are closed.

Recent Post

  • From Afghanistan to Bulgaria: Finding Purpose in Displacement Monday, 22, Nov
  • Six things to know about GEF Thursday, 10, Jun
  • What I’m Struggling With: Cities Designed By and For Men Tuesday, 28, Mar
  • 3 Years of Women in Dev: Introducing Our 2023 Programme Thursday, 9, Mar
  • What I’m Struggling With: The Never-Ending Fight For Gender Equality Friday, 3, Mar
  • Geçmiş Olsun Türkiye: Get Well Soon, Türkiye Thursday, 9, Feb
  • What I’m Struggling With: Being A Feminist Activist in Latin America Friday, 16, Dec

Recent Comments

  • graciebisbee586 on What I’m Struggling With: Being A Feminist Activist in Latin America
  • dorinegoethe on What I’m Struggling With: Being A Feminist Activist in Latin America
  • darrenfallis796 on What I’m Struggling With: Being A Feminist Activist in Latin America
  • eleanorepenny4 on What I’m Struggling With: Being A Feminist Activist in Latin America
  • John Alfred Bush. on Women in Dev Steering Committee Spotlight – Natalia-Nana Lesterbush

Tags

#leadership abortion abortion rights Afghanistan Africa amber heard anti-racism bans off our bodies bipoc Build Back Better COVID-19 development domestic violence Education Elections equality equity feminism gender gender equality global Global Count harassment inclusion johnny depp Kenya mentoring middle east misogyny movements Online harassment philanthropy Politics racial equality racism Reset Roe v. Wade sexism social justice steering committee Violence Against Women whatimstrugglingwith WID Women women in dev

Take Action Today

Join the collective driving radical change

 

enquiries@womenindev.com

Women In Dev is powered by
Global Office Consulting

Copyright ©2022 Women in Dev. All Rights Reserved.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
SearchPostsLogin
Monday, 22, Nov
From Afghanistan to Bulgaria: Finding Purpose in Displacement
Thursday, 10, Jun
Six things to know about GEF
Tuesday, 28, Mar
What I’m Struggling With: Cities Designed By and For Men
Thursday, 9, Mar
3 Years of Women in Dev: Introducing Our 2023 Programme
Friday, 3, Mar
What I’m Struggling With: The Never-Ending Fight For Gender Equality
Thursday, 9, Feb
Geçmiş Olsun Türkiye: Get Well Soon, Türkiye
Friday, 16, Dec
What I’m Struggling With: Being A Feminist Activist in Latin America
Thursday, 17, Nov
Women in Dev Steering Committee Spotlight – Natalia-Nana Lesterbush

Welcome back,