First Mayan Women's Congress.

• Author: Teissedre, Sandra
• Position: UN-initiated conference in Merida, Mexico

During the First Mayan Women's Congress, held on 10 and 11 October at the Macay Museum in Merida, Mexico, over 200 participants, including 33 Mayan women's groups, the media and representatives of ROSDES A.C - a network of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working on sustainable development in the Yucatan Peninsula - urged support for financial assistance, capacity building and training of indigenous Mayan women to lift themselves out of poverty and improve their livelihoods and those of their families. The Congress was initiated by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Small Grants Programme, and was funded by contributions of the UNIFEM national committees in Iceland and Japan. In opening the Congress, the Governor of the Yucatan State, Victor Cervera Pacheco, said the goal of the historic event was to "recognize the capacity and talent of the indigenous women" and to "achieve experiences and agreements that will be an example for thousands, millions".

Mayans have long lived traditional lives where distinct lines exist between men's and women's roles in society. UNIFEM and the UNDP Small Grants Programme, through on-going efforts such as sponsoring a gender training workshop for environmental NGOs, are increasing gender sensitivity awareness while helping to create a new balance of power and decision-making between men and women.

At the Congress, Mayan women expressed their concern at the challenges they face on a daily basis in gaining their husband's approval to let them contribute to their family's income by working outside the home. Joamy Perera Pech, from the Women's group U-Nahi Pepen, shared her personal experience in this struggle: "At first ... my husband was reluctant to let me leave the house. After I took him to where the women were working, little by little I was able to change his mind. Now my husband is working in the enterprise - a cooperative that produces paper mache decorations, as well as jewellery.

The 33 Mayan women's groups represented at the Congress target development issues that lead to economic empowerment. Ms. Pech's group is focusing on ways to integrate men into domestic work and, with more income, the men may not have to search for work away from their homes. "The project has changed my life", she said. "While I am here (at the Congress), my husband is at home taking care of the children, as well as running the...