The present and immediate future of Latin America is shaping up to be difficult: the triumph of the ultra-conservative Javier Milei in Argentina, the almost imminent re-election of Nayib Bukele in El Salvador, the political crisis in Guatemala, the crisis in Haiti, the Dina Boluarte regime in Peru, the Ortega’s dictatorship in Nicaragua and the human rights crisis in Mexico, to highlight just a few themes, outline a scenario of shocks and social upheavals for the entire region.
Against this background and after almost six years of waiting, also due to the Covid-19 pandemic, more than 1,600 feminists and dissidents met from November 22 to 25 for the 15th Latin American and Caribbean Feminist Meeting (EFLAC) in El Salvador to deter. This meeting is the most important in the articulation of the Latin Caribbean feminist movement and began in 1981. Bogotá, Colombia, was its first headquarters and brought together 280 women. At that time, the 25th anniversary was established as the International Day for the Feminist Movement for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in honor of the Patria sisters Minerva and María Teresa Mirabal, who were murdered by the Dominican Republic’s secret police in 1960.
The EFLAC, which takes place on average every three years, has outlined much of the course of the regional feminist struggle over the last 42 years. The focus is on the exchange of experiences, debates, differences of opinion and strategies. For this edition, which included the Second Central American Feminist Meeting in its organizational process, 12 thematic axes were created, covering: democratic setbacks and fundamentalisms; Transformation of hegemonic models of feminisms; comprehensive feminist protection; free and legal abortion; diverse and emancipatory genders and sexualities; gender-based violence; feminist cities; decolonial feminisms, anti-racism and intersectionality; feminist autonomy; Art and culture as a field of feminist transformation, this axis was one of the major stakes in this issue.
To work on this, 12 meetings were held, one for each topic. In addition, almost 200 self-convened activities were held, covering other topics such as sexual health, violence in lesbian couples, feminist football, sex work, care, the dictatorship in Nicaragua, the political context in Guatemala, etc., creating an experimental space for feminist art and music concerts with, among others, Sara Curruchich (Guatemala), Yela Quim (Colombia), La Straw y las Musas Descargas (El Salvador) and Sara Hebe (Argentina), and for the first time spaces were opened about the relevance of journalism and feminist communication speak.
For Salvadoran feminists, this EFLAC was relevant because it represented an opportunity to make visible the contributions of Central American feminisms that oppose exceptional regimes (El Salvador and Honduras), political crises (Guatemala), and extractive projects (Panama). It was also an opportunity to create a Salvadoran feminist memory, as 30 years passed before the meeting took place again in El Salvador.
This Central American country hosted the sixth edition of EFLAC in 1993. At that time, it was experiencing a period of war that began in 1981 and ended with the signing of the peace agreement in 1992. In 2023, the country will be under an emergency regime (enacted in March 2022), which removes constitutional guarantees and, among other things, prevents social protest for security reasons. In addition, on the eve of the presidential elections scheduled for early February 2024, the re-election of Nayib Bukele is imminent, whose government has a strong hand against gangs and is happy to hold the Miss Universe competition. in the country.
Although the Latin American Caribbean scenario appears to be full of obstacles, feminists and dissidents tried to find other ways to face the coming challenges both within and outside the movement.
A central point, they agreed, was the unification of everyone. “EFLAC is a transfeminist pact for a non-violent life,” the meeting statement said. They are aware that challenging moments lie ahead, but the union, without ignoring the discussions, will take on a different meaning. Feminisms are not homogeneous and intersectionality, the decolonial and anti-racist perspectives represent urgent issues that need to be addressed, for in what ways do new worlds emerge when colonial and capitalist dynamics and structures are reproduced?
Therefore, a crucial part of this EFLAC was to bring the role of black and decolonial feminisms more into focus. And after the application and voting process to select the venues for the meeting, it was decided that Haiti, with the support of the Dominican Republic, will be the next country to host the 16th EFLAC.
The challenge is not to let go. “In times of crisis and authoritarian restitution processes, networks save our lives,” claim Latin Caribbean feminists and dissidents. The coming attacks will put their networks to the test. But I have to admit that there is hope in seeing them share spaces, ideas, feelings, laughter and dance. Just like the demands, the united cries of:
“Respect for the plebiscite in Guatemala
We call for a non-militarization intervention in Haiti
Freedom for political prisoners in Nicaragua
We stand in solidarity with feminists in Argentina
“We want a free Palestine!”
Because it turns out that feminisms, with everything and their cracks or differences, actually outline a more livable future for everyone, everyone, everyone.
Lizbeth Hernandez She is a Mexican journalist, editor and independent photographer. She is a lesbian and the founder of Kaja Negra. As a reporter and photographer, she focuses on social movements, human rights, feminisms and the LGBTI+ agenda.
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