Bolivia | Development and Peace

Bolivia

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Our Program

Development and Peace’s program in Bolivia is aimed at strengthening civil society organizations and increasing citizen participation (women’s leadership, prevention of violence against women, and the participation of Indigenous and marginalized populations).

Bolivie

One of the goals of Development and Peace’s program in Bolivia is to promote women’s rights and their role as full citizens.

Our partners endeavour to reduce poverty, primarily amongst women and Indigenous groups, by establishing initiatives that support the socioeconomic development of communities and enable those concerned to participate in the management of revenues from the development of natural resources.

 

The issues we work on to build justice:

Ecological Justice icon

Ecological Justice

Equality between women and men icon

Equality between women and men

Democracy and citizen participation icon

Democracy and citizen participation

 

The situation

Bolivia has undergone a long period of political instability marked by numerous coups d’état and frequent military interventions. The nation’s first Indigenous president, Evo Morales, has served three consecutive terms.

The country, which is rich in natural resources (mineral resources, oil, gas, etc.), has a positive economic record and has averaged a yearly GDP growth exceeding five percent. Despite this, landlocked Bolivia – wedged between Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile and Peru – remains one of the poorest countries in the Americas.

Women have benefited little from the country’s economic growth and today, still find themselves marginalized and victims of violence. Indigenous people, as well as women and children in rural areas, live in conditions of extreme vulnerability.

News
October 12, 2017

After 12 days on a “solidarity tour” to western Bolivia in August 2017, I have a clearer understanding of the term “solidarity.” Our group of 14 Western Canadians set off to learn about Bolivian projects funded by Development and Peace.

Bolivia solidarity tour 2017
September 13, 2017

During Lent 2017, Development and Peace focused its campaign on “Women at the Heart of Change.” On this Bolivia solidarity tour, I feel I have been blessed by my contact with many women in Bolivia who are at the heart of change in their country.

August 30, 2017

The Uru people that have depended on Lake Poopo for generations are now asking themselves a similar question. The lake, located in the Oruro province of Bolivia, experienced an unprecedented fast period of evaporation...

August 22, 2017

Brenda Arakaza of Winnipeg was looking forward to the 12-day Development and Peace solidarity tour of Bolivia. A native of Burundi in East Africa, Brenda had been impressed with the work of Caritas Internationalis in Africa.

August 20, 2014

The first contact in the women’s centres was a special experience for all of us. When the women saw us arriving for the first time in their centres with CEPROSI employees, we could feel a certain distrust directed our way. They continued to knit without paying much attention to our being there. For some of us, it was hard to feel rejected by the people we want to help.

August 20, 2014

Here we are at the finishing line! We’ve made it to the last week of work. Only the final details are left: thinking about our goodbye party; finishing our internship project; purchasing souvenirs; … and writing up a few blog posts to tell you about our experience here in Bolivia! We believe that it’s important to describe the daily life we’ve shared over these last two and a half months.

August 20, 2014

Following our first blog post, we felt that it would be a good idea to provide more details about the women’s centres that we work with on a daily basis. As you already know, our internship with CEPROSI has led us to work with women from the Max Paredes and Cotahuma boroughs of the city of La Paz and the Ciudad Satelite district of the city of El Alto.

Most of Bolivia’s domestic workers who stand to gain from the new treaty are indigenous women.
December 5, 2012

Bolivia became the fourth state on November 20 to formally ratify the new Convention 189 of the International Labour Organization (ILO) on Decent Work for Domestic Workers. Adopted by the ILO on 16 June 2011, the passage of Convention 189 has been celebrated by workers around the world as they expect the landmark measure to change the lives of at least 100 million workers globally.

November 1, 2012

These days, things are booming in the mining town of Huanuni, Bolivia. Tin prices are at nearly $10 a pound, compared to $2 in the eighties. The tin extracted from the mine is processed in local foundries, and then sent by boat to Asia, where it ends up in cell phones, laptops, iPods and other electrical goods.

October 19, 2012

These women have come a long way - both literally and metaphorically! Nineteen- year old Diana Garcia, member of the executive board of the National Federation of Domestic workers (FENATRAHOB), came from a life of domestic servitude that started when she was only 12 years old in Pando, one of the remotest reaches of Bolivia. Today, Diana is studying law at the University of Bolivia.