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Washington, January 20, 2022 - The Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM/OAS) and the OAS School of Governance (OAS SoG) of the Organization of American States (OAS) are launching the second edition of the Course for Women Electoral Candidates in Colombia, organized jointly with the OAS Mission to Support the Peace Process in Colombia (MAPP/OAS) and the National Electoral Council of Colombia (CNE), in preparation for the Legislative Elections to be held on March 13, 2022.
The Course for Women Electoral Candidates is one of the most important initiatives promoted by the CIM, together with the OAS School of Governance, as part of its work to promote parity democracies in the region. After 14 editions, and the participation of more than 1,000 women candidates, this high-level training initiative is a regional reference for the promotion of women's electoral participation in the hemisphere.
These elections will inaugurate both political parity and democratic openness, with the election for the first time of the 16 Peace Seats, which seek to promote the representation in the Congress of the Republic of the victims, communities and territories most affected by the armed conflict, with lists of candidates made up of one woman and one man. Moreover, the organizing entities have promoted a wide participation of women candidates for these seats in the course.
During the sessions, the candidates will receive concrete tools to lead an electoral campaign with a gender perspective - an indispensable and differential element for the strengthening of their political leadership. In addition, they will have the opportunity to interact with a specialized international faculty and join the CIM Network of Women Politicians, a regional community that offers a space to meet, exchange and promote their political leadership and coordinated actions in favor of equality.
This edition has the support of the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for Development (AECID), and the Government of Italy and Portugal, who add to the alliance of different organizations involved that seek to strengthen women's leadership in Colombia. This edition will be taught virtually and will be named "Josefina Valencia" in honor of the suffragette, politician and defender of women's rights.
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