Bolivia's Turmoil: A Country On The Brink

Bolivia is a landlocked country in South America with a population of around 12 million people. It is a developing country with a mixed economy, relying on agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, and manufacturing. Bolivia has a history of political instability, with frequent changes in government and a succession of military and civilian regimes.

In recent years, Bolivia has experienced falling oil and gas prices, which have impacted its economy. The country has also faced political turmoil, with disputed presidential elections and allegations of human rights abuses. The interim government has struggled to maintain macroeconomic stability, and the country continues to face challenges such as high deficits, low reserves, and overdependence on primary commodity exports.

Despite these issues, Bolivia has made progress in reducing poverty rates and improving its economy. However, there are concerns about the country's political polarization and the lack of judicial independence. The current government has been criticized for its handling of the economy and its failure to address structural issues.

Overall, while Bolivia has faced challenges and setbacks, it remains a country with potential for growth and development.

Human rights abuses

The judiciary in Bolivia faces serious problems, with a lack of independence and allegations of corruption. There are also restrictions on freedom of expression and media freedom, with violence and threats against journalists. Government corruption is widespread, and there are extensive restrictions on human rights organizations.

Gender-based violence, including domestic violence, sexual violence, and femicide, is prevalent in Bolivia. Women's rights activists have stated that shelters for survivors of domestic violence are inadequate and do not provide protection from abusers.

Bolivia has also been criticised for its treatment of indigenous peoples, who face barriers to exercising their right to free, prior, and informed consent. Additionally, there have been reports of political interference in the justice system, with the government using a broad definition of "terrorism" to prosecute political opponents.

Political instability

Bolivia has experienced a series of political crises in recent years, with the most notable being the forced resignation of Evo Morales in 2019. Morales, the country's first Indigenous president, was accused of electoral fraud and stepped down amid violent protests and pressure from the military. This event marked a turning point in Bolivian politics, triggering a period of instability and uncertainty.

The interim government led by Jeanine Áñez faced the challenging task of restoring stability and guiding the country towards new elections. However, Áñez's administration was marred by allegations of human rights abuses, including the use of torture and arbitrary detentions. The country remained deeply polarised along political and regional lines, with supporters and opponents of Morales clashing frequently.

The election of Luis Arce in 2020, a candidate from Morales' party, the Movement for Socialism (MAS), brought some respite to the political turmoil. However, Arce's administration has also faced challenges. Bolivia's economic woes, including falling revenues and a sharp drop in GDP growth, have put pressure on the government to deliver on its promises of economic recovery. Additionally, the country continues to grapple with issues such as corruption, a weak judiciary, and social and political divisions.

The imprisonment of Luis Fernando Camacho, the governor of Santa Cruz and a prominent opposition figure, on terrorism charges related to the 2019 political crisis, has further inflamed tensions. Critics allege that the charges are politically motivated and aimed at silencing opposition voices.

The current political landscape in Bolivia remains volatile, with ongoing social and economic challenges testing the stability of the country's democratic institutions. The deep-seated divisions within Bolivian society, the legacy of the Morales era, and the ongoing power struggles between rival factions continue to shape the country's political trajectory.

Economic turmoil

Bolivia's economy has been in turmoil, with a history of dependence on primary commodity exports, particularly hydrocarbons. The country has faced challenges due to falling oil and gas prices, leading to a projected decline in GDP growth. The Bolivian economy is vulnerable to external shocks, with a transitory presidency that limits the ability to implement necessary economic reforms.

The country's economic woes are compounded by high deficits, low reserves, and a lack of economic diversification. The overreliance on hydrocarbon exports has resulted in a decline in output as reserves deplete and purchases from major buyers, such as Brazil and Argentina, decrease. This has contributed to a sharp drop in revenues and a corresponding fall in GDP growth.

The Bolivian government has struggled to address the economic situation effectively. The interim presidency of Jeanine Áñez, who replaced Evo Morales, faced the challenge of maintaining macroeconomic stability while being constrained by a limited mandate and time. The subsequent election of Luis Arce as president has not brought significant improvements, with the country's economic growth rates falling below international organizations' projections.

Bolivia's economic turmoil has fueled distrust in the government, with citizens concerned about pressing economic issues such as hyper-dependence on the U.S. dollar and its shortage. The country's high levels of public spending and gradual decrease in tax revenues and royalties have resulted in persistent fiscal deficits, further exacerbating the economic crisis.

Poor prison conditions

Prison conditions in Bolivia are poor and overcrowded, with the prison population at three times the capacity of the prisons. Prisons are dilapidated, lawless, and lack basic infrastructure. Food supplies and medical care are insufficient, and diseases such as tuberculosis are common. Prison officials only control the outer perimeter of the institutions, with the interior under the control of the inmates themselves, who direct gang activity and have access to drugs and alcohol. Corruption is widespread, with wealthier inmates able to arrange for improved living conditions, more liberal visiting rules, shorter prison terms, and transfers to better prisons.

Violence is also a serious issue in Bolivian prisons, perpetrated by both prisoners and prison officials. Women inmates face regular sexual harassment and assault, and some are forced to pay extortion fees to avoid being raped. There is also a culture of silence due to fear of retaliation, which suppresses the reporting of gender-based violence.

In addition to the harsh conditions, prison authorities in Bolivia arbitrarily deprive inmates of their liberty. The Defensor del Pueblo considers pre-trial detainees as people deprived of their right to liberty, and approximately 70% of prisoners are awaiting trial or currently on trial. Prolonged pretrial detention is a problem, with complex legal procedures, judicial inefficiency, executive interference, corruption, and inadequate case-tracking mechanisms contributing to trial delays.

The prison system in Bolivia fails to meet international standards of human rights and poses a serious threat to the safety and well-being of inmates. Urgent reforms are needed to address the overcrowding, lack of basic infrastructure, violence, and arbitrary deprivation of liberty in Bolivian prisons.

Gender-based violence

Bolivia has the highest number of teenage pregnancies in Latin America, which is often linked to cases of sexual abuse. More than half of women in Bolivia (52.3%) report having experienced physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner, but only 1% of all gender-based violence cases are prosecuted and convicted.

Women with disabilities are particularly vulnerable, experiencing significantly higher rates of violence than those without. They are targeted due to their limited mobility, dependency on others, and barriers to reporting abuse. Women with disabilities are ten times more likely to experience sexual violence and seven out of ten report having been subjected to violence within their families. Half of those women report being survivors of sexual violence.

In 2013, the Bolivian government passed Law 348, which is designed to prevent intimate partner violence and punish abusers. The law focuses on women's right to a life free of violence and makes femicide a crime punishable by 30 years in prison. However, the vast majority of domestic violence complaints never reach trial, and of those that do, most never result in a sentence.

Humanity & Inclusion, a humanitarian organisation, takes a community-based inclusive approach to prevent violence against women through its projects in Bolivia. They work to:

• Educate women and girls about their sexual and reproductive health.
• Strengthen financial resilience by improving access to training and job placement to enable women with disabilities to gain financial independence and autonomy.
• Promote women's rights by developing materials and training to raise awareness about women's right to live free of violence and access comprehensive education.
• Strengthen community resources for violence prevention and care by including the needs and participation of women, including those with disabilities, in response plans.

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