Women's Empowerment In Bolivia: Impact On Freedom Scores

Bolivia has made significant strides towards gender parity in politics, with women now holding almost half the seats in congress and laws mandating gender equality at lower levels of government. However, the increase in female political representation has also led to a sharp rise in violence against women in politics, with male politicians resisting the change. This violence includes physical assault, false rumours, and withholding of salaries. Despite a 2013 law that sets forth comprehensive measures to prevent and prosecute violence against women, impunity for gender-based violence remains a serious issue in Bolivia. The Freedom House score for Bolivia is likely to be affected by the country's progress towards gender parity in politics, but the continued violence and harassment against women in politics may hinder any positive impact on the score.

Women's rights in Bolivia

Bolivia has long been a patriarchal society, with traditional values that place importance on strict gender roles. These patriarchal ideologies have silenced women for centuries, with women in politics facing harassment and assault in their fight for equality. As a result of gender inequality, Bolivia has experienced slower economic growth, increased poverty rates, and a lack of female participation in the labor market. However, in recent years, Bolivia has made significant strides towards gender parity and improving women's rights.

In 1997, the Bolivian government passed a law requiring 30% of political candidates to be women, marking the beginning of the country's mission towards gender parity. Since then, the development and creation of laws have continued to increase female political representation and participation. By 2019, Bolivia had become an exception to most of Latin America and the world, with 53% of women in the Cámara de Diputados and 47% in the Cámara de Senadores. As of 2024, Bolivia ranks second in the world for the most gender-equal government, with a council that is 53% female.

Despite this progress, women in Bolivian politics still face backlash and physical and psychological violence from men, including politicians, who want to prevent them from taking up political positions. To address this issue, the country has passed laws to combat physical and psychological abuse and raise awareness of the violence women experience. Additionally, programs aimed at aiding women in poverty have emerged, providing financial support and financing to women entrepreneurs and helping over 4,000 Bolivian women gain access to services such as savings accounts and credit lines.

Bolivia is now setting the standard for gender parity across Latin America. The country's efforts to end gender discrimination and improve women's rights have sparked a movement across the region. By addressing issues of gender inequality, Bolivia will not only achieve greater gender equality but also reduce poverty among women and increase female participation in the labor market, leading to improved economic growth and well-being outcomes for both men and women.

Gender parity in politics

Bolivia has made significant strides towards gender parity in politics, with women now holding almost half the seats in Congress and gender equality mandated at lower levels of government as well. This rapid progress is the result of a combination of political will and social mobilisation by women. The country's 2009 constitution enshrined equal representation for women, and since then, various laws have been enacted to increase female political representation and participation. As a result, Bolivia has become an exception not just in Latin America but also globally, with 53% of women in the Cámara de Diputados and 47% in the Cámara de Senadores.

However, this progress has not been without challenges. Bolivian society has long been steeped in patriarchal ideologies, which have silenced women for centuries. One aspect of these ideologies is the notion that women enter politics solely to take away jobs from men. As a result, women in politics face backlash and continued violence and harassment as their numbers rise. This resistance to gender parity in politics is not just coming from male politicians but also from some sectors of society, as evidenced by the attacks on female politicians and the persistence of machismo culture.

Despite these challenges, women's organisations and civil society have played a crucial role in pushing for gender parity in politics. The inclusion of women in politics is seen as a way to question the privileges and biases based on gender and social class and to break down the patriarchy that has long framed the construction of the Bolivian state. It is also worth noting that the increase in female political representation has led to greater attention being given to issues affecting women, such as violence against women in politics and the need for laws to address this issue.

While Bolivia has made remarkable progress towards gender parity in politics, the country still faces challenges due to its patriarchal history and the resistance from some male politicians and sectors of society. However, with the continued efforts of women's organisations and civil society, as well as support from international bodies, there is hope that Bolivia will continue to make strides towards true gender equality in politics.

Violence against women

Bolivia has the highest rate of femicide in South America. In 2018, the country had two femicides for every 100,000 women. The first six months of 2019 saw more than 60 reported murders of women, or one femicide every two days. Intimate femicide, when the perpetrator is a partner or relative of the victim, is the most common form.

In 2016, an estimated 70% of women had been victims of violence by their partners. According to the Center for the Information and Development of Women (CIDEM), 70% of women suffer some form of abuse. The most exhaustive national survey on domestic violence, conducted by the National Statistical Institute in 2003, showed 64% of women were the target of some form of emotional, physical, or sexual abuse from their partner.

The prevalence of femicide relates to overall high levels of abuse and domestic violence against women. Men most commonly perpetrate violence against women, especially male relatives and partners, and this treatment typically follows both repeated physical and verbal abuse.

Bolivia has a history of machismo culture, which views women as property. This has led to violence against women becoming commonplace throughout the country. The country's patriarchal ideologies have silenced women for centuries. Women in politics, for example, continually face harassment and assault due to their fight for parity and equality.

In 2013, Bolivia passed a new comprehensive domestic violence law, which outlaws many forms of abuse of women, including marital rape. The country also implemented Law 348, also called the Comprehensive Law to Guarantee Women a Life Free From Violence. It considers femicide a severe form of violence and imposes a minimum sentence of 30 years in prison for anyone convicted.

Bolivia's Freedom House score

In terms of civil liberties and political rights, Bolivia faces challenges such as torture, cruel and degrading treatment, harsh prison conditions, arbitrary arrests, restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly, government corruption, and violence against women. These issues are documented in the US State Department's 2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.

The country has also struggled with gender inequality and violence against women in politics. While Bolivia has made significant progress towards gender parity in politics, with women holding almost half of the seats in Congress, the increase in female representation has reportedly led to a sharp rise in violence against female politicians. This includes physical attacks, harassment, and political violence.

Additionally, women in Bolivia face obstacles in accessing reproductive health products and services, and the country has a high maternal mortality rate, particularly among Indigenous women.

In terms of economic freedom, Bolivia received a score of 43 in 2022, indicating a gradual decline from a score of 64.3 in 2003. This score suggests that the country's economy is largely controlled by the state, with individuals facing constraints on their freedom to work, produce, consume, and invest.

Overall, while Bolivia's Freedom House score is not publicly available, the presence of significant human rights violations and restrictions on civil liberties suggests that the country's score would be relatively low.

Women's economic empowerment

Bolivia has made significant strides towards gender equality in recent years, particularly in terms of women's economic empowerment. While the country has a history of patriarchal ideologies and strict gender roles that have silenced women for centuries, it is now setting a new standard for gender parity in Latin America.

One notable example of women's economic empowerment in Bolivia is the Joint Programme on Productive Patrimonial Assets Building and Citizenship Programme for Women in Extreme Poverty (the Programme). This initiative targets aid to indigenous rural women from the poorest areas, providing them with financial support, access to savings accounts and credit lines, and training to help them attain sustainable livelihoods for themselves and their families. The Programme has assisted over 4,000 Bolivian women in starting their own businesses and improving their economic prospects.

In addition to targeted programmes, Bolivia has also implemented laws and policies to promote gender equality and women's economic empowerment. Since 1997, the country has passed several laws aimed at increasing female political representation and participation, recognising that greater representation leads to improved rights and opportunities for women. As a result, Bolivia now has the second-most gender-equal government in the world, with a council that is 53% female.

The benefits of these efforts extend beyond politics, as increased female representation has helped to address issues such as violence against women and has created awareness of the specific challenges faced by women in areas like healthcare and education. For instance, the country has passed laws specifically addressing violence against women in politics, and there is now greater visibility of women in political and leadership positions.

In the economic sphere, Bolivia is tackling gender disparities through various initiatives. The Women's Energy Fund (FEM) is one such example, empowering women entrepreneurs in the energy sector by providing financial and technical support, as well as helping to co-design and adapt technologies to meet their specific needs. This has led to increased income, financial independence, and a sense of self-empowerment among participants.

Bolivia is also witnessing an increase in women-led businesses and female employment in sectors traditionally dominated by men, such as construction. Organisations like the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Association of Women Construction Workers (ASOMUC) are providing training and support to women in this field, helping them secure decent jobs and improve their working conditions.

While Bolivia has made remarkable progress in women's economic empowerment, there are still challenges to be addressed, particularly in rural areas and among indigenous communities. Climate change, for instance, disproportionately affects rural women, increasing their workload and reducing their opportunities. However, initiatives like the Plurinational Policy and Plan on Climate Change aim to build resilience and promote holistic development, ensuring that women's voices are included in addressing this global challenge.

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