Institutions in Paraguay and Spain discuss equality

During the last few months, a series of “dialogues for equality” have been held in Paraguay within the framework of the European project “Support for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in Paraguay”, with the aim of contributing to the sustainable development of Paraguay and advancing towards SDG 5, Gender Equality. Until next October, activities will be held to facilitate an exchange of knowledge and experiences in the form of virtual dialogues between public institutions in Paraguay and Spain.

The dialogues have been oriented towards the challenges and mechanisms in the design and implementation of policies for the prevention, attention and eradication of violence against women. In the conversations that have already taken place, the institutional framework for promoting equality and eradicating gender violence has been addressed, with presentations by the Deputy Minister for the Protection of Women’s Rights, María Celsa Aquino, and the Deputy Director General for Studies and Cooperation of the Women’s Institute of Spain, María Vázquez Sellán.

The challenges of inter-institutional coordination for the design and implementation of public policies for the eradication of gender-based violence were also discussed by speakers such as the Executive Secretary of the Gender Secretariat of the Judiciary of Paraguay, Silvia López Safi, and the Deputy Director of Gender for Inter-institutional Coordination in gender-based violence of the Government Delegation against gender-based violence, Macarena Gamir Linares.

Tools and instruments of public policy on gender-based violence and challenges were also discussed with the Director of Gender of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of Paraguay and, once again, with the Deputy Director of Gender of Inter-institutional Coordination in Gender Violence of the Government Delegation against Gender Violence.

New challenges to be addressed
The next meetings will address topics such as the importance and challenges of observatories on gender-based violence and the challenges in implementing public policies for the prevention of and attention to violence against women. Innovative initiatives such as comprehensive forensic assessment units or regional psychosocial offices will be discussed, as well as inter-institutional cooperation and articulation as a tool for implementing public policies with the aim of eradicating gender-based violence.