2022 Annual Report

Every year, rural Guatemalans elect a mayor to oversee and represent their communities. Bety Oxi’s husband was elected to the position but left the country shortly after and named Bety to serve in his place. Bety, a Maya Kaqchikel woman and a graduate from WJI’s Women’s Rights Education Program, became the first woman from her community to hold the position.

As the only woman among eleven elected officials, Bety’s success in the role illustrates what women can accomplish when they feel empowered to participate in leadership roles. Bety says that recognizing her self-worth is one of the greatest lessons learned from WJI’s workshops, “as women, we matter.” She notes that before participating in WJI’s programs, she believed she had no value.

Machista and patriarchal attitudes are prevalent in rural Guatemala and for Bety, occupying a public position has been a challenge. She has faced criticism that targets not just her abilities as a leader, but the simple fact that she is a woman. She says that if she had not received training from WJI, she would have never been brave enough to serve in public office. A testament to her determination, Bety has built strong relationships with her male colleagues, who support and encourage her.

Bety is succeeding in a role traditionally reserved for men and she has done so with confidence and courage. She says she feels fortunate that women in her community now see her as a role model.

“Women look at me and think that they can do it too, they get excited and say that they think about running for public office.”

“WJI helps women who are trapped in cycles of violence, women who need personalized attention, and whose financial means limit their ability to hire an attorney,” explains López. When women seek assistance from government entities they face many challenges, including limited services, linguistic barriers, and bureaucratic processes. WJI’s presence means that these offices can now refer women to an organization where they receive support from women who speak their language and who can help them navigate a complicated judicial system. “It’s important for women to know that they are not alone.”

López believes patriarchal social norms are one of the biggest challenges to addressing violence against women and girls and acknowledges that the prosecutor’s office has a hard time raising awareness. “This society is machista, about 35% of the complaints we receive are related to gender-based violence. We do give talks about prevention, but it’s not prioritized.” López commends WJI’s focus on training municipal service providers and engaging men and community leaders, acknowledging that sensitivity training and education are key to preventing gender-based violence.