Sparks of Resistance: Gender Justice Movements Defend Democracy in Guatemala

It’s simple: at Global Fund for Women, we believe that women’s political empowerment and equal participation are essential building blocks for gender justice, along with the right to live free from violence and discrimination, to have full control over their bodies, and to advance climate and racial justice. For nearly forty years, we have provided financial support to advance feminist leaders’ civic and political participation across the globe—in Afghanistan, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Fiji, Ghana, and more. 

The past few years have brought rollbacks, threats, and regressive policies around the world. But they have also given rise to new forms of resistance by feminist movements. We have witnessed the power of grassroot leaders not only to defend against these setbacks but to push forward meaningful, long-term social change. In Guatemala, the outcome of the contentious 2023 elections—and the rise of Indigenous-led resistance—offers a powerful reminder that feminist leaders are the backbone of democratic movements. Indigenous women at the forefront are not only defending democracy but demanding accountability and justice, advancing gender justice as part of this fight.