As part of the International Day of Afro-Latin, Afro-Caribbean and Diaspora Women, Alianza Verde worked to consolidate the anti-racist protocol to eliminate the obstacles to political participation to which black, Afro-Colombian, Raizal and Palenquera populations are subjected to.
The Colombian Green Party noted that many people belonging to black communities and, in particular, the majority of women have been victims of racial discrimination, which is, according to the Green Party, one of the main causes of violation of rights, inequality and violence in most social and economic areas in the country.
The Greens also noted that the black, Afro-Colombian, Raizal and Palenquera population is not sufficiently represented in the political sphere of the country. And they also noted the non-compliance and/or absence of public policies with clear actions for the development of their integrity, which eliminate any practice associated with political participation. Racism and discrimination in all its forms, have contributed to limiting the visibility of their role in the performance of public entities.
Faced with this reality, the Greens participated in a multi-party Round Table on the political participation of the black, Afro-Colombian, Raizal and Palenquera population in Colombia (MMP) in which the Greens seek to promote, guarantee and strengthen political participation of said population, by stimulating actions aimed at preventing, addressing and eradicating discrimination throughout the country.
Specifically, in the case of Afro-Colombian women, through their own experiences as leaders, they have shown that they have been labeled because they are women, they are also Afro and they have political aspirations.
In the case of Viviana María Sánchez, MMP delegate of the Green Alliance, she affirmed that, even if they do not hold a seat, black women face obstacles in obtaining the support of political parties, as well as in obtaining funding for their campaign and, in addition, they constantly struggle with the stigma that an Afro woman does not have the capacity to occupy a seat.
Likewise, Arinda Gándara, city councilor of Cartagena, joins in, confirming the idea of racial stigmatization, but adding the alert to the threats against Afro women who lead political and social processes.
For her part, Ximena Conto, former city councilor of the city of San Cristóbal in Bogotá, spoke about the lack of knowledge of companies about the exercise of black women in the construction of society in Colombia and Latin America.
To conclude, Viviana Banguera, city councilor of Buenaventura, highlighted the fruits and achievements obtained thanks to the daily struggle for the rights of Afro women, understanding the role of women and men in politics, especially in elective positions.
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