On Monday in the afternoon we visited the wonderful campus of UCA (University of Central America) and had a session on Gender and Economics. Julia Evelyn Martinez, former minister of Women´s affairs now at UCA shared her insights and available statics on the challenges women face in El Salvador today.
Julia shared how the issues and the solution needs to be looked at from both political, women´s rights and economic perspective. Specifically women in rural areas face multiple challenges in having to manage multiple roles and jobs, while facing high rates of sexual asaults, low percentage of ¨¨property ownership and economic security. Also representation of women in government is quite low, lower than 10 years ago, which makes change and advocy for women´s issues more difficult. Hope is seen in women´s movements connecting together and focusing across the economic stability, human rights improvements for women and political participation.
Later we met at Guest House El Torogoz with Oti Guardado on Mental Health after Trauma´s related to war and current health related traumas. She related to us her journey and the journey of several martyrs and the mental emotional impact on the survivors facing so much death, torture and fear around them. Oti is working with groups and individuals on sessions processing their experiences and focusing on balanced mind, body, spirit energy work to strenghten their inner balance and reintegrate hope and healing in their life.
An inspiring and informative day. We ended with group meditation, healing and breathing reflections grounded in our learnings and feelings being together in solidarity in El Salvador. We felt connected and shared the healing energy with those we met and are still to meet. We shared our thoughts and despite the real challenges, fears and work ahead we felt grateful, thankful, inspired, hopeful with the people of El Salvador and our delegation.
Elsbeth
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