Raquel Munt and Gladys Gonzalez are blazing the trail to greater political leadership for women in Argentina.  Members of Compromiso para el Cambio (CPC or Commitment to Change), a center-right political party in Argentina that is dominant in Buenos Aires, Gonzalez and Munt entered politics with a desire to help their communities and in the process discovered a true talent in encouraging women to participate in public life.

In August 2006, both were nominated by their party to attend the first Latin America and Caribbean regional conference of IRI’s Women’s Democracy Network, which provides training and networking opportunities to aspiring and accomplished women leaders around the world.  From that meeting, Gonzalez and Munt were inspired to carry on the mission of the Network in their own country.  Gonzalez states, “Upon returning to our country, not only did we want to share everything we learned and experienced with women from the Network, but we also wanted to take concrete action on the commitment that we made during the conference.” 

With the help of IRI and the Fundación Creer y Crecer (The Believe and Grow Foundation), Gonzalez and Munt developed  the CPC Political Leadership Training School in Argentina which prepares women for political leadership through an eight-part seminar entitled, Entre lo Femenino y la Politica (“Between the Feminine and Politics”).  The CPC school addresses issues such as the value of women in public life, women’s leadership and strategic planning, and management for women in politics. 

Despite a history of dictatorship and a culture with traditional views on gender roles, hundreds participated in the first series, which took place during the winter of 2006. 

The response from women involved with the CPC school has proven that the tide can change, particularly as women gain the skills and knowledge they need to break through into politics. Munt hopes that the CPC school will “continue to raise awareness on the importance of women occupying decision-making positions and facilitating access to those levels of participation, in pursuit of improving the democratic quality of our institutions.”

In addition to their duties with CPC, Gonzalez serves as director of the Banco Ciudad (City Bank) of Buenos Aires and Munt as advisor to the Commission on the Protection and Use of Public Space for the Buenos Aires Legislature.