Bolivia: Women A Driving Force in the Revolutionary Process

[Judi Lynn]

Mon, 2010-03-08 22:19. Human Rights
Celebrating International Women's Day:
Bolivia: Women A Driving Force in the Revolutionary Process
By Lisa Macdonald | Hudson Valley Activist Newsletter

In January, Bolivia’s left-wing President Evo Morales began his second term by appointing a new cabinet in which women are equally represented for the first time. Morales, Bolivia’s first president from the nation’s long-oppressed indigenous majority, is leading a revolutionary process of transformation. The 10 women ministers are from a wide range of backgrounds, and three of them are indigenous.

Introducing the new ministers, Morales said: "My great dream has come true — half the cabinet seats are held by women. This is a homage to my mother, my sister and my daughter."

In the Dec. 6 national elections, in which there was the highest-ever voter participation in Bolivia, Morales and his Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) party won a resounding victory. Morales was re-elected with a record 64.2% of the vote and the MAS secured the two-thirds majority in the Senate needed to pass legislation to advance its pro-people program.

The proportion of women in Bolivia’s new parliament doubled, from 14% to 28%. Women now hold 47% of Senate seats and Ana Maria Romero from MAS has been elected Senate president. This is a remarkable achievement in the poorest country in South America. It was not until the 1952 national revolution that either women or the 60% of Bolivia’s population that are indigenous were even entitled to vote.

Until 1996, women were largely prohibited from owning or inheriting land.

MAS Senator Gabriela Montano told the BBC on Jan. 29: "This is the fruit of the women’s fight: the tangible proofs of this new state, of this new Bolivia, are the increasing participation of the indigenous peoples and the increasing participation of women in the decision-making process of this country."

Morales was first elected in 2005 on the back of five years of massive protests and uprisings — in particular against the privatization of Bolivia’s gas. Morales’ government has implemented some of the key demands of the people’s struggle — in particular the partial nationalization of gas and the convening of an elected constituent assembly to draft a new constitution based on justice and equality for the indigenous peoples.

More:
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/50625