Indigenous Women Celebrate 2015 Progress and Prepare for 2016

On November 30, 2015, 225+ indigenous citizens and friends from Mexico City, Russia and the United States converged in the local government building of Acaxochitlán, Hidalgo for the 2^nd Annual Regional Forum of Indigenous Women Leaders of the Otomí-Tepehua Region.

There, and with support from the Mexican federal Instituto Nacional de las Mujeres (INMUJERES) among others, PSYDEH facilitated a day of work and celebration where the women:

• finalized a rights-based actionable development agenda and thus completing 1.5 years of work around seven development themes;

• publicly charged the new president of the regional indigenous organization to pursue projects, propose development solutions and coordinate the women’s network;

• publicly charged each president of the four new local organizations to pursue projects, propose development solutions and coordinate with the movement in 2016.

• publicly charged the leaders of the new regional cooperative of women artisans to supply global demand for organic and artisanal goods;

• invited their men to recommend project priorities for improving gender relationships and equity in the Region (now captured in the Gender Equity chapter of their Agenda);

• listened to a Russian-born international women leader consultant on how women are the backbone of societal progress worldwide;

• listened to local government leaders on the importance of rights-based women movement building;

• shared a new collection of interviews with various regional board leaders in Spanish, Otomí and Nahuatl on regional development needs and why PSYDEH;

• showcased the organic and artisanal products produced in the four municipalities;

• celebrated cultural traditions with two dance performances from Acaxochitlán and Huehuetla.

See below more images from the 2^nd Annual Regional Meeting.