Indigenous Women’s Movements in Latin America: the Case of Panama and CONAMUIP

Abstract

The National Coordination of Indigenous Women of Panama (CONAMUIP) is the most important representative of the indigenous women of Panama (peoples of Kuna, Emberá, Wounaan, Ngobe, Buglé, Naso and Bri-Bri). The creation, evolution and development of the CONAMUIP must be considered in the context of the increasing prominence of the Indigenous Peoples in Latin America, as well as in the process of strengthening of the Women’s Movement of Panama since the beginning of the 90’s. The construction of the National Coordination has been simultaneously carried out through specific community itineraries (Regional Coordinators), national authorities –National Council for Woman (CONAMU) and National Directorate of Woman (DINAMU)– and international networks (Continental Network of Indigenous Women of the Americas, ECMIA). Thus, the CONAMUIP has set itself up in an inter-ethnic organization whose goal is working with and from indigenous women within all the places where they live (communities, counties, suburban areas). The tasks and projects, aimed for the individual and collective empowerment, have covered all kind of issues that affect indigenous peoples and especially indigenous women (such as interculturalism, violence, health, traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples, environment, etc.).