From November 11 - 13, 2008, International Republican Institute’s (IRI) Bolivia and Women’s Democracy Network (WDN) programs collaborated with Bolivia’s Multi-Party Women’s Roundtable on a series of events to document and promote the democratic process they undertook to draft a gender promotion bill. Members of the roundtable include women congressional leaders, local elected officials, and representatives of the National Electoral Court. Participants joined in a roundtable discussion, a press conference, joint commission hearing, and a television political talk show to promote the gender promotion bill.

The legislation aims to enforce women’s political rights by having the National Electoral Court intervene in cases where women are forcibly removed from their elected positions. Members of the roundtable drafted the bill following a nine-month series of debates and discussions at the national and local levels, which were facilitated by the IRI Bolivia office.

WDN members Rocio Bedolla Tamayo (Mexico), Marisol Espinoza Cruz (Peru) and Marta Tamayo (Colombia), and advocacy trainer Elvia Ramirez Leon (Mexico) traveled to La Paz to provide advice and counsel on the legislation and the public outreach process, to participate in the events surrounding the bill’s public launch, and to share examples of gender promotion legislation from their countries. These international partners also conducted a workshop with the women of the roundtable to assist them in developing an advocacy plan for the legislation, defining the regional, national and local stakeholders vested in the bill’s passage, and developing a communications strategy for creating buy-in with these stakeholders.

IRI’s Bolivia program published the book, “For Every Law…Say NO to loopholes!” The book documents the experience of the Multi-Party Women’s Roundtable and discusses the legislation in detail. Participants and IRI hosted a book launch on November 12 with remarks from USAID Director Peter Natielo and a key note address from former Bolivian President Lidia Gueiler.

The highlight of the week’s activities was the November 12 introduction of the gender-promotion bill to the joint congressional commission on the constitution.
Vice Chairman of the Commission and Deputy from the MAS party Rene Martinez presided over the hearing and congratulated the women of the roundtable on their efforts. He stated that, “I believe this bill addresses a very sensitive and timely issue for our country.” (Bolivia will vote on a constitutional referendum in January, 2009 which includes new language on equal rights.)

In addition to speakers from the roundtable and the National Electoral Court, Rocio Bedolla Tamayo addressed the commission on behalf of the international partners. She stated that, “We belong to the Women’s Democracy Network and have participated in a dialogue with the women of this roundtable to exchange information on gender promotion, democracy and human rights. We support new policies in each others countries and encourage you to review this bill in a timely manner. To support women is to support your entire nation.”

Participants of the roundtable will create a network of support for the legislation within and outside of the Bolivian Congress as the legislation is reviewed. A vote on the bill is expected during the first calendar quarter of 2009.
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