2022 Annual Report

Every year, people in rural Guatemala elect a new mayor to govern their communities and represent the interest of the people. In 2023, Bety Oxi’s husband was elected to the position in a community in San Juan Comalapa but left the country shortly after and named Bety to serve in his place. Bety, a 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 courage and success in the role illustrate what women can accomplish when they feel empowered to politically participate. Bety says that recognizing her self-worth is one of the greatest lessons learned from WJI’s workshops, “as women, we matter.” Bety 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 accept the opportunity to serve in public office. A testament to her determination, Bety has built strong relationships with her male colleagues, who support and encourage her success.

Bety is succeeding in a role traditionally reserved for men in her community, 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. Reflecting on her role as an indigenous woman participating in public office, she says:

“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 invests in relationships with local authorities and community leaders, which strengthens the coordination among entities and improves the municipalities holistic response to survivors of violence. District Attorney López considers WJI to be an indispensable resource for the municipality, stating “WJI is well known in rural communities…and is recognized for its work with government institutions and organizations in the municipal protection network…[Now] Community leaders refer women to WJI and women who don’t have economic resources to hire a lawyer know they can get free legal help.”

“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 complex 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 (VAWG) 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 VAWG. We do give talks about prevention, but [because of time constraints, and limited personnel], 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.

“WJI has had a positive impact on women and has been a great help to Comalapa,” not just ensuring that women can defend themselves, but by shifting broader attitudes that will lead to transformative change.