One step forward -- two steps back?

Susana Klien is WOMANKIND’s Programme Manager for South America. A Peruvian human-rights lawyer, she has also worked with Latin American women immigrants in the UK.

Peru’s economy is on the up — but strikes are paralysing the country and the gap between rich and poor is growing. Susana Klien has just been in Lima with WOMANKIND’s partners: in her blog she describes their new concerns, their ongoing commitment to improving poor women’s lives — and their concerns for the future.

I was back in Peru for only two weeks − but what an eventful fortnight!

Peru was beaten by Argentina in the Latin American Football Cup, Machu Pichu was chosen as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World ― and a judge in Chile blocked former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori’s extradition to Peru.

Peru wants him tried for human-rights violations and corruption offences, but the judge decided there wasn’t enough evidence. And days of protests and a national strike by unions, teachers, and many other groups left much of the country paralysed.

The strike originated when proficiency tests for teachers were introduced, but now construction workers, farmers, miners and politicians are demonstrating their dissatisfaction with the government.

The country’s economy is growing. Yes, in cold, economic terms, Peru is a better place than before. I have seen a lot of new restaurants, shops and boutiques, many new buildings, many 4 x 4s.

But the gap between rich and poor has not been bridged. The public-education system is appalling ― and getting worse. The ‘flexibilisation’ of labour conditions means many people are being exploited and earning very little – particularly women. Many people have to have two or three jobs to survive, if they can find them. The sick can die in public hospitals because hospitals don’t have the medicines or space for them. Taxis are driven by teachers, economists, sociologists…

Women feeling the backlash

WOMANKIND’s four Peruvian partners are working in a very difficult environment. There is a real backlash against women’s rights, after a period in which community organisations and women’s organisations ― and progressive public institutions like the Women’s Department at the Ombudsman’s Office ― made significant advances.

Women started to benefit from better sexual and reproductive rights and improved practices, for example in interpreting VAW legislation and prevention of sexual violence. Peruvian women succeeded in getting a Domestic Violence law passed — and a quota law for women representatives in national congress and regional government.

Many battles were won. But right now the influence of the Catholic Church is very apparent in relation to sexual and reproductive rights: even though the law allows abortion for women whose life may be in danger, public hospitals don’t have the necessary guidance. When the main women’s hospital in Lima did develop guidelines, the Ministry of Health caved into pressure from the Church and invalidated them. Now the Ministry is holding a multi-sectoral roundtable to discuss the issue of therapeutic abortion with representatives from different government institutions and religious leaders.

And the army is still a strong power, and impunity has been the rule in relation to human-rights violations carried out by the military for more than 20 years.

WOMANKIND partners in the vanguard

But there are shafts of light — in the form of new opportunities provided by the current decentralisation of government power, giving women more chances to influence change at the local level.

WOMANKIND partners are taking the lead — building the capacities of community-based organisations and working with regional and local government to develop policies and projects taking into account communities’ needs.

Asociacion Aurora Vivar (AAV) has helped three regional governments develop equal opportunities plans, with long-term targets. Also, AAV is training Social Watch Committees. These monitor public policies so that women can hold their local/regional governments to account. Calandria (Association of Social Communicators) is WOMANKIND’s partner in San Martin. It supports women’s groups to develop specific project proposals, including one to tackle maternal mortality.

Each partner has been working to challenge violence against women and discrimination for around 20 years. They have seen changes in legislation, Presidents and Ministers come and go; experienced strikes, protests, steps forward and steps back. They have been able to do their work thanks to the commitment of extraordinary workers and volunteers ― and through their close engagement with the community.

Is the money running out?

They’ve also kept going because of the support of the international community. But something is hitting them very badly now. Not only are there attacks on women’s rights, but the funding is running out. As Peru is considered a ‘middle-income’ country with a growing economy, the international community isn’t prioritising support to Peruvian organisations.

But in the regions where WOMANKIND’s partners work, equality hasn’t been achieved, and women bear the burden of economic policies and discrimination. Furthermore, in some areas there is extreme poverty, with communities completely excluded from public policies. Huancavelica, where partner organisation DEMUS works, is the poorest city in Peru, at an altitude of 3,600 metres. People are experiencing levels of malnutrition comparable to the poorest countries in Africa. Our partners are offering crucial support to women and communities, but at the same time are struggling to survive.

At our last meeting in Lima, our partners asked me why international donors don’t see this. Why they don’t go to these places to see what is going on. Is Peru’s government going to tackle these issues if they are in a ‘Triple Alliance’ with the Catholic Church, the Army and Big Business? And I don’t have the answer … and will never have.