Women's Empowerment and Good Governance Through - amarc

Best Experiences for an Action Research Process 106
Chapter 21.
The Group of Women of Matagalpa:
An Organization of Decided Women
By Julia Velasco Parisaca (48)
Thirty-four women are contributing to cultural transformation in the northern region of Nicaragua,
where inequity has the face of women. Their proposal is to promote, educate and communicate
from the perspective of women living in poverty.
The Colectivo de Mujeres de Matagalpa (CMM) (women’s collective of Matagalpa) is one of
the women empowerment experiences in Latin America. This organization is one of the most
important social actors and with more political effect in that region of Nicaragua. It was born
in the 80s, during the Sandinista Revolution process, with the mission to influence the social
transformation respecting human rights, particularly of women, girls and boys, and promoting
freedom, justice, respect and equity practices.
The task was not easy as a result of the economic, political and social marginality suffered by
women, in a society that characterizes by itself for a machista culture that sends the women
to the reproductive function and victimizes them with physical, psychological and sexual violence.
This is the context for CMM’s work, to have an influence in society, through programs on health,
creative education, prevention of violence, theatre and Radio Stéreo Vos (49) (FM 101.7), the
community radio and a member of AMARC.