As part of its commitment to raising awareness and advocating for the human rights of women in the Global South, Canadian Jesuits International interviewed Martha Lucía Márquez Restrepo, Executive Director of Centro de Investigación y Educación Popular/Programa para la Paz -CINEP/PPP, a social center of the Society of Jesus in Colombia which focuses on research, advocacy and education on social issues. She holds a philosophy degree from the National University of Colombia and a PhD in Social Sciences from Pontifical Javeriana University, where she was a professor. Excerpts:

How would you describe the situation of women in the world today?

Governments and the international community have many unmet commitments to women, especially in reducing gender inequality, discrimination, and violence. The rise of right-wing governments with anti-rights agendas threatens this progress.

In 1995, 189 countries signed the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, committing to gender equality, equal participation in the economy and education, access to quality healthcare, and addressing gender-based violence and women's protection in armed conflicts.

Today, 30 years later, the gender gap remains wide. A recent UN Women report shows progress in gender equality laws and political participation. However, women still have only 64% of the rights men enjoy; they represent just 25% of the world's parliamentarians.

More concerning is that conflict-related sexual violence has increased by 50% since 2022, the gender employment gap remains, and maternal mortality has barely decreased in the last nine years.

What are the key issues facing women in Latin America, and how can they be addressed?

Latin America has made progress in women’s political participation, education, and literacy. But much remains to be done. In Mexico and Central America, criminal groups use women’s bodies for territorial control. Violence can be driven by patriarchal culture and machismo. Sexual violence is also used as a weapon of war.

It's important to highlight State and social violence against women who have had miscarriages, with some being prosecuted and sentenced to long prison terms for allegedly inducing the miscarriage.

States must ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Investment in education should guarantee access to quality education for girls and women, integrating human rights, women's rights, and sexual and reproductive education into curricula. This should emphasize the dignity of women and girls and stress societal loss when half its members are marginalized. States must ensure justice in cases of feminicide and gender-based violence, tackling widespread impunity.

Women worldwide face higher rates of poverty, lack of education, and injustice. In Latin America and the Caribbean, women aged 25-34 and single mothers experience the highest levels of extreme poverty. Why is this?

Studies show a correlation between education and income: higher education leads to higher earnings. This highlights the importance of quality education for boys and girls. In poor households, children are expected to contribute to the family income, which keeps them from attending school and perpetuates poverty. Boys are prioritized for education, as they are expected to get jobs and support the family. Girls are relegated to home duties. Teenage pregnancy rates are high. Young mothers often drop out of school, facing low incomes or unpaid care work, making them dependent on others.

Do faith-based organizations have a role to play in promoting women's rights?

Many organizations, inspired by the Church's social doctrine, work for gender justice and equity. As part of the Society of Jesus, we empower women through training, support their rights, and promote initiatives like agroecology to foster economic independence. We’ve implemented gender policies and established committees to engage men in reflecting on gender issues, rooted in the belief that women's rights are human rights and development requires their inclusion.