Guatemalan women force Development Bank to investigate gender policy violations
After a complaint filed by women's groups from Ixquisis, Guatemala, the Interamerican Development Bank (IDB) has started an investigation on several policy violations, amongst which the Gender Equality policy. This is a unique chance to create a precedent, because complaints on the IDB's gender policy are very rare. The women from Ixquisis are fighting for their rights with support of the Global Alliance for Green and Gender Action (GAGGA).
The women accuse the IDB of non-compliance with both its Environmental and Social Sustainability Policy and three Operational Policies (on Environment and Safeguards Compliance, on Gender Equality in Development and on Indigenous People) in the approval process for several hydropower projects in their region: the Pojom I, Pojom II and San Andrés dams.
Hydropower projects disrupt communities and the environment
The affected people of the region of Ixquisis are primarily indigenous Mayans including the Chu, Q'anjob'al and Akateko ethnic groups. The construction of the dams has caused severe environmental and social damage, which have affected local people's ability to maintain their traditional lifestyle.
According to the women of Ixquisis, the most severe problem is that the dams have caused water scarcity and pollution. The lack of water has also drastically reduced harvests, lessening the income gained from selling corn, wheat, beans, coffee, sugar cane and other products in the market. Fish, shrimps and snails are no longer abundant. As a result, the conditions of poverty in the area have deepened.
It's the women in the communities that are most negatively effected by the construction of the Pojom II and San Andrés dams. Stomach and skin diseases become more common, especially amongst women, who stand in the polluted water when washing clothes, and children who play in the rivers. This puts even more pressure on the women in the indigenous communities, as they are the ones feeding their families and taking care of ill community members.
The women also feel no longer safe within their own communities. They are afraid to walk alone in the dark, as they are being harassed by the dams' construction workers, and fear revenge. Because the women are at the frontline of the protests against the dams.
Nine affected Mayan communities and allied organizations have been protesting the dams for six years. They have made various efforts before the municipal, departmental and national authorities to express their disagreement over the diversion of the rivers by the company that operates the dams.
From local to global: using international spaces for local matters
However, in Guatemala there is little space for civil society to make their voices heard and influence the government's decision-making. Therefore, the NGO AIDA stepped in to take the women's fight against the dams to the international level. AIDA has been supporting the communities to strengthen the capacity of women and community-based organizations to use accountability mechanisms at international financial institutions to protect their rights and environment, through training and legal support.
In August 2018, the communities represented by AIDA, together with the International Platform Against Impunity and the Plurinational Ancestral Government of Q'anjob'al, Popti, Chuj and Akateko, filed a complaint before IDB's Independent Consultation and Investigation Mechanism (MICI, "Mecanismo Independiente de Consulta e Investigación") to demand the withdrawal of its investment in the project.
The MICI has accepted the complaint after consistent advocacy and information by AIDA and the affected communities, and is now doing a thorough investigation, including a visit to Guatemala at the end of 2019.
How one complaint can eventually lead to policy change
Although the final report will only be published by mid-2020, the fact that this investigation is taking place is already a success. The violation of gender safeguards has not been discussed much at MICI, as very few claims have been brought about it. This presents an opportunity to set a precedent by bringing the issue to its attention, along with violations of the other safeguards. AIDA expects the MICI's findings to align with their complaint, and that the MICI will recommend the IDB to better regulate its projects and comply with its own social and environmental policies. Better implementation of these policies would strengthen protections for affected communities, especially for women, and improve environmental and social sustainability of the IDB's investments.
For the women of Ixquisis, however, what counts is that until now, the Pojom II hydropower project has not yet been built. "So far we've achieved that the river is not stolen from us", as Carla, a local women states.
Linking and learning to empower women and environmental NGO's
An important part of GAGGA is the idea of "Linking and Learning". By providing local groups the opportunity to exchange experiences and knowledge with others, they increase their advocacy capacities and feel stronger by the international solidarity and support.
For the women from Ixquisis, AIDA has been able to broaden their network in and beyond their region. For example, they participated in the Women and Water congress in Nepal and met other Human Rights Defenders in Colombia earlier this year.
Furthermore, this complaint process also has increased AIDA's knowledge on gender issues in large infrastructure projects. They will incorporate a stronger gender perspective in their future environmental and human rights work, and share their experiences with other organizations, regionally and globally. For this, they are working on a report in which they evaluate the effectiveness of the accountability mechanism of the IDB. This report will be a useful resource for the whole GAGGA-network.
For more information
Read more about this subject
-
Dossier /
Global Alliance for Green and Gender Action (GAGGA)
GAGGA rallies the collective power of the women's rights and environmental justice movements to realize a world where women can and do access their rights to water, food security, and a clean, healthy and safe environment.
-
Dossier /
Advocating for responsible policies of development banks
Development banks should comply with strict environmental and human rights rules to ensure that their projects benefit and do not harm the poorest groups. Both ENDS monitors the banks to make sure they do.
-
News / 7 augustus 2018
Indigenous women fight dams in Guatemala
Communities from Northern Guatemala have filed a complaint this week against the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). They bear the brunt of the construction of two large hydropower dams in the Ixquisis region, that are co-financed by the IDB. This is against the bank's own policies on environment and sustainability, indigenous people, gender, and information disclosure.
-
News / 15 april 2022
IDB stops funding for two controversial dams in Guatemala: ground-breaking decision
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has taken a unique decision to withdraw from the construction of two controversial dams in Ixquisis, Guatemala. Both ENDS has supported our partner AIDA for many years in its fight against the dams. Tamara Mohr and Pieter Jansen explain why this decision is so exceptional.
-
Publication / 10 december 2018
-
News / 23 maart 2020
Women in Latin America claim their right to water
In many places in Latin America, access to clean water is under great pressure from overuse and pollution, often caused by large-scale agriculture or mining. This has significant impact, especially on women. In March, with International Women's Day on March 8 and World Water Day on March 22, they make themselves heard and claim their right to water.
-
Blog / 8 maart 2019
Women lead struggle for land rights for the Avá Guaraní
By Tamara MohrTogether with five women from the Platform Suace Pyvyvõhára, I travel to Mingã Pora in the east of Paraguay. Around 45 families from the indigenous Tekohá Suace community settled here in 2016. In Guaraní, Tekohá means 'the place where we are what we are'. They reside in tents - self-made out of waste materials - on a small strip of land with a soy field on one side and a nature reserve owned by the Itaipu company on the other.
-
News / 8 maart 2019
Campaign "We, women are water" launched on International Women's Day
During the month of March, and as part of International Women's Day (March 8th) and World Water Day (March 22nd), the organizations that constitute GAGGA-Latin America, will lead a joint campaign called "We, women are water".
-
News / 31 maart 2022
Well-deserved recognition for small grants funds!
We are exited about the news that Ms MacKenzie Scott decided to entrust substantial funding to a wide range of small grants funds from Both ENDS' partner networks*. These small grants funds are unique as they are set up and led by people, often activists themselves, from the country or region in which the fund is based. Most mainstream conventional funders admit they have difficulties reaching community based organisations and grassroots groups themselves. Small grants funds know better than anyone how to reach local communities, who to support and what kind of financial as well as non-financial support is most needed. Thus, they bridge a wide funding gap. Both ENDS applauds this recognition of the important role of these funds in the funding landscape. We hope this encourages more funders to join!
-
Publication / 15 maart 2023
-
News / 3 juni 2020
Green light for FGG and GAGGA!
Last Friday, 29 May, it was announced that both the Fair, Green and Global Alliance (FGG) and the Global Alliance for Green and Gender Action (GAGGA) have been selected as two of the 20 potential strategic partnerships of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the 2021-2025 period. Both ENDS is pleased that the Dutch government is seriously considering extending its support to these networks, as they show that cooperation on the basis of equality between grassroots organisations and NGOs throughout the world can continue to bring about change in the position of women, in respect for human rights and in making trade chains and financing systems sustainable.
-
Publication / 26 november 2020
-
Dossier /
Agua Zarca: indigenous fight against dam costs lives
Indigenous Hondurans are resisting the construction of the Agua Zarca hydrodam. Their fight has cost several lives, including that of Berta Cáceres. After considerable public pressure, Dutch development bank FMO withdrew from the project.
-
Publication / 8 maart 2018
-
News / 8 maart 2018
Only 0.2 % of all foundation funding for women & environment
Women around the globe are at the forefront of addressing the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation, designing, implementing, and scaling up their own solutions. Socially defined gender roles often position women and girls as stewards of the physical, economic, and cultural well-being of their communities.
-
Event / 6 maart 2018, 15:00 - 16:30
Women's Rights & Climate Finance Webinar: getting the money to the people
Join us for the third session of this five-part series on women's rights and climate finance, aimed at building knowledge and power to ensure finance flows benefit local women's groups, respond to community needs and respect human rights.
-
Dossier /
Indigenous communities threatened by Barro Blanco dam in Panama
The Barro Blanco dam project in Panama, which has Dutch financial support, is causing indigenous lands to disappear under water. Both ENDS is working to protect the rights of indigenous communities living near the dam.
-
Event / 13 april 2018, 11:30
Small grants, big impacts: workshop on Africa Day
On the 14th of April, Both ENDS wil host a workshop called 'Small Grants, Big Impacts' on the annual Africa day in Amsterdam. The workshop aims to demonstrate that so called 'small grants funds' effectively deliver (devopment and climate) money where it matters, to people that need it the most. Large development banks, funds, donors and governments could use small grants funds as alternative financing mechanisms to make sure their money benefits people and their environment now and it the far future.
-
Publication / 2 november 2021
-
Publication / 4 november 2022