The 2nd Regional Public Forum of Indigenous Women Leaders Draws Near

PSYDEH and its women partners, with support from the Mexican federal INMUJERES and the local government of Acaxochitlán, finish preparations for the highly anticipated follow-up to last year’s successful inaugural Public Forum of Indigenous Women of the Otomí-Tepehua region, Hidalgo.

On Monday, November 30, 2015, 150+ indigenous women leaders from the Region’s four majority indigenous areas will travel up to seven hours by bus to cement relationships, celebrate progress and engage government and national and international women leaders.

The five-hour event begins with a panel discussion on the relationship between women leaders and sustainable development.

Thereafter, and pursuant to twenty-eight 2015 workshops on last year’s Development Agenda Framework, indigenous women will celebrate their new actionable regional development agenda. This is the foundation on which 2016 indigenous women organization-led local projects will be designed and implemented.

During the lunch hour, forum attendees will enjoy an indigenous dance performance and might look to build on last year’s spontaneous dance party!

Because of a last minute schedule change (the event was originally scheduled for Wednesday, November 25), the afternoon session will begin with one or both of the following: a presentation on the role of women leaders in the public sector outside of Mexico AND/OR the formal swearing in of the four new municipal advisory boards and Regional Cooperative. This is followed by short presentations by Umbrella Network leaders.

The Forum ends with a brief presentation on progress made in the Region since 2013,  how PSYDEH works and the need for rights-based, bottom-up oriented development. Attendees will then be invited to enjoy

• “Tianguis” (or stands) displaying artisanal goods produced in the Region, and

• a photo exhibition highlighting PSYDEH’s Program in action.