Cochabamba! Could there be a more charming name for a city?
It was right here, from October 22 to 23, that the 2nd Meeting of Women Assembly Members 2025–2030: Weaving Democracy – Tools for Inclusive and Equal Legislative Action* took place — co-organized by Bolivia’s Coordinadora de la Mujer and @ECES — bringing together over 80 participants: deputies and senators, full members and substitutes, newly elected representatives from all parties in Bolivia.
It was a truly remarkable occasion, not least because in Bolivia 52% of deputies and 58% of senators are women — a world record! The event was lively, engaging, and full of substance, covering a wide range of topics: from how to use parliamentary rules to build cross-party women’s coalitions, to needed reforms, to the risk of losing hard-won progress, and even practical advice on dealing with cyberbullying and online abuse.
But above all, the goal was to get to know each other — many of the newly elected women had never met. After a tough and polarized campaign, this was an informal and friendly space to talk, share, and explore the willingness to work together. The idea was to make sure that this female majority wouldn’t remain just a number, but would also translate into real power and leadership roles — still mostly held by men — and into actual influence over decisions.
The atmosphere was truly inspiring. The participants came from incredibly diverse backgrounds — ethnically, socially, and politically. Among them were three newly elected women aged 18 and 19, a mother of nine, several Indigenous social leaders with their traditional hairstyles and dresses, and tall, blond women with European features — a vivid snapshot of a very diverse society for a country of only 11 million people. Many were in politics for the first time; and since the winning party, the PDC, hadn’t expected victory, there were quite a few “surprise” deputies!
Even among the most conservative or religious participants — not exactly supportive of abortion rights or LGBTQ+ issues — there was a sincere will to avoid the kind of conflicts men usually have. I’m not entirely convinced that women automatically “do politics differently,” but much depends on the context and the sense of unity that can be built. And in Cochabamba, that spirit was definitely there.
There were also many representatives from civil society — strong, diverse women shaped by Bolivia’s years of social openness under the MAS governments. Many bore the marks of hard lives, yet had bright eyes and wide smiles.
It made me wonder: could something like this ever happen in our parliaments? And would it help?
In any case, these days were incredibly encouraging. They once again proved a simple truth — one that far too many people in Europe refuse to accept: without clear rules, quotas, and targeted policies and funding, gender equality will take decades to achieve. Progress will keep stalling.
Mexico is the perfect example. In 2019, it passed a law mandating gender parity at all levels and in all institutions — simple, clear, and direct. And yet Mexico, in the collective imagination, is the land of machismo.
Still, as Cecilia Vadillo — a deputy from Mexico City and member of Morena — told us, in less than six years since the law’s adoption, the number of women entering government at all levels, even in remote areas, has exploded. President Claudia Sheinbaum now enjoys 80% approval after standing up to Trump with calm and balance. In village festivals, little girls march at the front, dressed as presidents instead of princesses!
These are examples worth watching closely — stories from countries where violence, poverty, and marginalization still exist, but where women are claiming spaces of power they never had before. And they fully intend to make the most of them — under the joyful cry:
???? “¡Juntas haremos historia!” — Together, we’ll make history!
