Five people sitting at a round table during an LGBTIQA+ workshop, discussing and making notes. © GIZ / Mauricio Alarcón

Promoting gender equality in Bolivia

Promoting gender equality in Bolivia (ProIgualdad)

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  • Client

    German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

  • Country
  • Political sponsors

    More

  • Runtime

    2024 to 2027

  • Involved

    Vice-Ministry for Equal Opportunities (VIO), Plurinational Service for Women and Depatriarchalisation (SEPMUD), Ministry of Education and its departments, Ministry of Labour (MTEPS), Ministry of Productive Development and Plural Economy, Ombudsman’s Office for human rights (DP), intersectoral organisation of female workers, Service for the Development of Productive Public Companies (SEDEM), selected public and private companies, chambers of industry and commerce, business associations and universities

  • Products and expertise

    Social development

Person writing keywords on sticky notes while three others are watching.© GIZ / Mauricio Alarcón, Benedikt Borchers

Context

In Bolivia, structural and societal hurdles stand in the way of gender equality and LGBTIQA+ rights (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*, inter*, queer and asexual people). Women earn a third less than their male colleagues. In 2023, 81 women were victims of femicide. Since the law against racism and discrimination was enacted in 2010, only one sentence has been handed down for violating the rights of LGBTIQA+ people. Despite the legislation in force, complaints are not acted upon. LGBTQIA+ individuals face prejudice from law enforcement officers, have limited access to public services and formal employment, and are restricted from participating fully in social life. The media represent women, men and LGBTIQA+ people in stereotypical ways.

Although there are laws against discrimination and for the protection of women and LGBTIQA+ people, better enforcement is needed.

Several people sitting around a large table, talking to each other.© GIZ / Mauricio Alarcón

Objective

Leaders in education, business and the media are doing more to promote gender equality and LGBTIQA+ rights.

Approach

The project has three priority areas:

  1. It incorporates piloted and validated gender-sensitive educational methods into the curricula used by the education authorities in La Paz, Santa Cruz and Cochabamba.
  2. It increases the scope of the quality seal for companies that prevent violence against women, which was developed by the predecessor project, to include additional criteria of gender equality and LGBTIQA+ rights.
  3. It works with media professionals to develop and disseminate media and communication products on gender equality and the rights of LGBTIQA+ people.
Three teachers from schools in city suburbs designing a poster on subjects like gender, diversity and human rights.© GIZ / Mauricio Alarcón

Last updated: February 2025

Additional information