Female Activist María Noel Vaeza Warns: "Removing Femicide as an Aggravated Circumstance Could Cause the Feminist Movement to Echo Across the American Continents"
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Maria Noel Vaeza radiates passion, vigor, and tenacity. As the director of the UN Women office for the Americas and the Caribbean, she is crystal clear that achieving gender parity is an unyielding journey, albeit one that sometimes moves at a frustratingly glacial pace. She remains upbeat yet unfailingly realistic.
What about the pause in progress witnessed in some countries, and the stagnation in others regarding women's rights?
I'm confident we've made substantial strides in various aspects that impact women, such as sexual and reproductive health in numerous countries, as well as women's economic autonomy, a key factor in eradicating violence. There's a great deal of talk about setbacks. A strong discourse indeed, but upon closer examination, we still don't see these setbacks in new legislation. When we do, the feminist movement will resurface in the streets. Many programs have been cut, for instance, successful adolescent pregnancy programs that yielded impressive results, due to austerity measures or the notion that the state must shrink. Yes, we live in a complex era, marked by revolutions whose direction we can't predict, and filled with uncertainties; but we must remain positive, and focus on our accomplishments.
Navigating diplomacy and concrete action
Born in Uruguay where she earned degrees in law and social sciences, Maria Noel Vaeza joined the diplomatic corps early on and has represented her country in Paris and Washington. Prior to her tenure with UN Women, she held roles at the World Bank and UNDP. With the United Nations Development Programme, she contributed to the reconstruction of Guatemala following the war.
Q. What appeals most to you about all these jobs?
A. For me, Guatemala was a pre-and-post experience. We could design projects, witness how communities engaged could notice minor improvements. See how involving women was the most crucial thing of all and see how peace could bloom after 40 years of conflict. That's why my work in Guatemala was extraordinary in that sense. Diplomacy is more ephemeral. I liked that human development side, that comprehensive development of people.
"Women’s voices have immense influence, this movement is highly vital"
Q. Recently, the Ibero-American States Organization has established the "Voices of Ibero-American Women" platform. Why is it essential for women's voices to be heard in all corners of the world?
A. The impact of Latin American women has astonished us. #NiUnaMenos is on the cusp of its tenth year. It's extremely important when denouncing violence against women. Thanks to this movement, we have prompted aggravating factors such as femicide. They have played an important role in generating comprehensive laws against violence or the Olimpia Law in Mexico. Olimpia Corral Melo has been a leader against online violence... So, I believe there is significant influence. This vibrant movement persists in Latin America. No, they will not silence it. I believe that, on the contrary, if they carry out what they've promised, such as eliminating femicide as an aggravating factor... the feminist movement will resound everywhere in the Americas.
Q. Is the feminist movement still vibrant in Latin America?
Our movement's strength lies in its interconnectedness. I believe language unifies us, Spanish unifies us. But even with the Brazilians, because there we all speak Spanglish. Brazilian women are very strong in the climate justice movement. COP will take place in November in Belém do Pará in Brazil. And there's a youth movement that has emerged from climate justice. The movement continues to be highly energetic. We saw it in March at the Commission on the Legal Status of Women, marking 30 years since the most visionary women's agenda, the Beijing Platform for Action. This year, 13,000 women from around the world reaffirmed their presence and their unwillingness to step back. Of those 13,000 women, 8,000 were Latin American... It's critical that we continue to nurture this movement, building bridges among young women, indigenous women, Afro-descendant women.
During her recent visit to Spain, where this interview was held, María Noel Vaeza participated in the seminar "Financing development with a feminist approach: relying on women", organized by the Fundación Carolina, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, and UN Women as part of the preparations for the next International Conference on Financing for Development. Economic autonomy for women is one of the key objectives for UN Women in the Americas and the Caribbean. María Noel Vaeza lists strategies to advance this in the region in her interview with Objetivo Igualdad: placing care at the center, waging war against informality and precarity in thousands of women’s workplaces, and forging connections with the private sector are some of them. You can watch the program on Canal 24 horas, on La2, and later on our website.
Latin America faces both pervasive challenges and outstanding progress in pushing forward women’s economic autonomy and combating violence against women, with several pivotal developments shaping the current landscape.
Difficulties
Violence Against Women
- Domestic Violence Prevalence: In Brazil, a 2025 survey shows that 40.7% of women aged 16 and over have suffered physical, sexual, and/or psychological violence from a partner or ex-partner, with around 60% of these cases occurring within the last year and taking place at home[4].
- Insufficient Legal Protections: Although Brazil and other Latin American countries have updated laws and legal frameworks to hold perpetrators accountable, these measures have not sufficed to suppress violence or guarantee justice for victims[4].
- Policy and Institutional Rollbacks: In Argentina, the Ministry of Women, Gender, and Diversity has been dismantled under the present administration, signifying a de-emphasis on gender equality at the national level[2].
- Broad Regional Trends: Across Latin America, women continue to face restrictive abortion laws, femicide, and sexual harassment, with resistance to gender equality initiatives endangering hard-won gains[2][4].
Economic Autonomy
- Gender Pay Gaps and Labor Market Inequalities: Women in Latin America continue to grapple with substantial barriers to economic participation, including wage disparities and limited access to formal employment and leadership roles[5].
- Limited Access to Education and Training: Even though progress has been made, many women still lack access to the education and vocational training necessary to enter the labor market or launch businesses[5].
- Societal and Cultural Barriers: Traditional values and limited support systems can hinder women’s economic self-reliance, particularly for vulnerable groups[5].
Progress
Violence Against Women
- Heightened Awareness and Activism: The so-called “women’s spring” in Brazil and similar movements across Latin America have catalyzed unprecedented focus on gender inequality and violence, empowering women to voice their concerns and advocate for change[4].
- Legal Advances: Numerous countries have introduced new legal frameworks to address femicide, sexual harassment, and domestic violence, with ongoing efforts to enhance enforcement and public awareness[4].
Economic Autonomy
- Empowerment Programs: Efforts such as UN Women’s Second Chance Education and Vocational Learning Program (SCE) in Mexico have helped women re-enter formal education, gain vocational skills, and access employment or entrepreneurship opportunities. In Jalisco, 368 women improved their lives in 2024 through this program, with over 9,000 participants reached since 2019[3].
- Economic Advantages from Gender Equality: Encouraging women’s entrepreneurship and equal labor market participation is projected to increase GDP and productivity significantly throughout the region, with potential gains in Latin America and the Caribbean estimated at around 10% of GDP[5].
- Institutional Support: Some countries are emphasizing a gender perspective in public policies, aiming to establish more inclusive strategies for shared prosperity and reduced inequality[3].
- The discussion on gender equality, including the advancement of women's health and economic autonomy, is a significant aspect of 'general news'.
- In the context of women's health, the struggle for women's rights in various countries can be considered under 'human rights' or 'women's health and wellness'.
- Discussions on the role of women in politics, such as the impact of women's voices in shaping policies and movements, fall under 'politics' or 'society and culture'.
