Lima, Peru – Newly elected congresswomen in Peru gathered for a workshop to build an effective legislative agenda for the 2011-2016 term. Hosted by the Women’s Democracy Network (WDN) and the International Republican Institute, the event drew from the comparative experiences of WDN members and female legislators from Argentina and Mexico.

With an 80 percent turnover in the Peruvian congress, the workshop concentrated on a renewal of the Women’s Peruvian Parliamentary Caucus (MMPP), which was established by the WDN Peru Country Chapter to bridge party lines and form an effective legislative agenda. The female legislators who attended the September 9 conference represented the three strongest parliamentary groups in the Congress – Gana Peru, Fuerza 2011 and Alianza Parliamentaria – demonstrating a strong multi-party caucus for the new legislative term.

WDN Argentina Country Chapter co-founder, Congresswoman Gladys Gonzalez opened the workshop by reflecting on her experiences in parliament and how her focus on women’s issues allowed her to build strategic alliances with members of various political parties to better address their constituents’ needs. Her campaign, “more women, better politics” provided the Peruvian legislators incentive to strengthen their own partnerships to work in solidarity for increasing women’s political, social and economic participation in their communities where they have little to no representation.

Deputy Maria Antonieta Perez Reyes, who represents Juarez, Mexico, spoke about how understanding the socioeconomic factors facing her constituents, helps her to better represent their needs in congress. Reyes highlighted the work of the Center of Studies for the Advancement of Women and Gender Equity, created for the Mexican Chamber of Deputies to inform legislative work with research. She encouraged the female legislators to create a similar center in Peru to better address the needs of their citizens through specific research on the various socioeconomic factors that affect the provinces they represent.

WDN member and former president of the MMPP, Margarita Sucari unveiled a publication on the history, structure and activities of the caucus which will serve as a resource for the new caucus as it highlights the various legislative successes which serve as an example for future initiatives.

This was followed by a discussion led by Peruvian Congresswomen Luisa Cuculiza, Maria Cordero Jon Tay and Carmen Omonte Durand on their legislative priorities for the MMPP.

Launched in 2009, WDN’s Peru Country Chapter includes current as well as former members of the Peruvian Congress who are supporting the MMPP in drafting a legislative agenda and conducting outreach in the regions to formalize channels of communication between the congresswomen and their constituencies. Their first project will be modeled after the WDN’s Argentina Country Chapter which conducts nationwide women’s political participation trainings.