Esquel September 2024 - Within the framework of the RedER Chubut Project: Fair and Inclusive Energy Transition of Family Farming, in the productive axis of the Frutillas del Viento Project, two workshops aimed at promoting the leadership and rights of rural women were held in Esquel, Chubut. This series of workshops is carried out with the financial support of the European Union in Argentina and the Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB) and is organized by the 500RPM Foundation, the Ibero-American Union of Municipalists (UIM) and the Patagonia Natural Foundation (FPN) with local support from INTA Esquel.

The first workshop, entitled "Leadership and exercise of rights of women in family farming", took place on Thursday, September 19 at the Melipal Cultural Center from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This workshop was aimed at women rural producers, as well as institutional and academic representatives, with the aim of strengthening female leadership in family farming and guaranteeing the full exercise of their rights.

The second workshop, "Positive actions in local governments for equal opportunities for rural women", was held on Friday, September 20 at the Centro del Encuentro from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This workshop was focused on local government officials, seeking to promote policies and concrete actions that ensure equal opportunities for rural women.

Both workshops were given by gender specialist Ramona Reyes Painequeo, vice president of the Ibero-American Network of Municipalities for Gender Equality of the UIM, from Chile. Reyes Painequeo's experience and leadership enriched the dialogue around the challenges and advances in gender equality in the rural, educational and political spheres.

The workshops sought to provide tools to guarantee economic independence and the full exercise of rights for participants in horticultural production projects. They were also open to other producers and women social leaders, political officials and academics. Work was done on the transmission of concepts and with practical exercises, case analysis and examples of gender policies implemented by municipalities. “The idea is that they are spaces for reflection and sharing constructive experiences,” said Reyes.

The initiative has the support and collaboration of the Ibero-American General Secretariat, the Municipality of Esquel and the University of Chubut, demonstrating the commitment of various institutions in the creation of spaces for the development and empowerment of women in the region.

In the words of Luciana Proietti, coordinator of RedER Chubut: “We hope with these workshops to offer a mobilizing perspective to the women linked to the project so that each one can make her contribution from her place.” For his part, the Secretary General of the UIM, Federico Castillo Blanco, believes that these workshops begin the process of raising awareness to promote dialogue, the participation of women and political leadership for the implementation of equal and sustainable public policies.

About the RedER Chubut Project

RedER Chubut: Fair and Inclusive Energy Transition of Family Farming is a project co-financed by the European Union that seeks to strengthen the development of family farming through the use of renewable energy and the social and economic inclusion of local communities. The initiative has sustainable production, governance and education as its main axes, and promotes a fair energy transition model in the Patagonian region.

About the European Union

The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 European countries. It is based on the values ​​of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. The European Union acts globally to promote the sustainable development of societies, the environment and economies for the benefit of all people.