SECOND SEMESTER 2026

Number 8

In its eighth edition, FOKUS Women magazine continues to report on the work and reflections of our Latin American partner organisations in Colombia and Guatemala. We would therefore like to thank all the organisations for contributing to this publication, which aims to reflect the ideas and actions that FOKUS supports in the region. This ongoing effort to publish the magazine regularly since 2020 reflects FOKUS’ commitment to supporting the struggles and demands of women and LBT people in the region, despite the current situation in which uncertainties regarding democracy, and consequently human rights, loom over the civilian population and society at large.

PHOTO REPORT

A GENERATIONAL SHIFT IN WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP

A DECALOGUE FOR PEACEBUILDING

Ixmukane

CRACKS IN JUSTICE FOR INDIGENOUS WOMEN

ANALYSIS

“May the words and the struggle of women not be forgotten”

In Nebaj, discrimination, structural inequality, gender stereotypes and violence against women are rife, reflected in the prevalence of machismo, which prevents women from participating in decision-making forums.

ASOCIACIÓN RED DE ORGANIZACIONES DE MUJERES IXHILES (ASOREMI)

Cali: memories, disputes and
re-existences

As a result of the collaborative mapping project ‘Cartografía para la re-existencia’ (Cartography for the re-existence) of the city of Cali, a new counter-map reveals the territorial reconfiguration five years after the social outburst.

CARTOGRAFÍA SUR

Changing perceptions of SRRS in colombia

For women, girls and pregnant people, making decisions about their own bodies depends more on the local context than on the law. In Colombia, geography dictates the fate of bodies. Whilst the High Courts hand down landmark rulings…

FUNDACIÓN ORIÉNTAME

CHRONICLE

Seeds of leadership, roots of peace

Sibelis Villazón’s journey reflects the progress made by Indigenous women in peacebuilding, from community leadership to regional advocacy in Sierra Nevada de Gonawindúa.

CABILDO INDÍGENA DEL RESGUARDO KANKUAMO

The decision was mine, not the patriarchal system’s

The girl who once felt afraid because nobody explained to her what menstruation was is now a woman who creates safe spaces so that others can speak out.

GRUPO MULTIDISCIPLINARIO POR LOS DERECHOS SEXUALES Y REPRODUCTIVOS

Peace also has a woman’s face

From rural woman and victim of violence to grassroots leader, the story of María de Jesús Cárdenas reveals how social organisations transform lives and build peace from the ground up.

CENTRO DE PROMOCIÓN Y CULTURA (CPC)

EDITORIAL

In its eighth edition, FOKUS Women magazine continues to report on the work and reflections of our Latin American partner organisations in Colombia and Guatemala. We would therefore like to thank all the organisations for contributing to this publication, which aims to reflect the ideas and actions that FOKUS supports in the region.

LIFE STORY

A voice that leads and transforms

Aura Yuliza Suárez, a Guajira, an Indigenous woman, a migrant and a trainee psychologist, is a young woman whose heart is rooted in transforming the lives of girls and young women in Barranquilla.

Intertwined stories on the path to healing

Three generations of Maya women — Nicolasa, Jacinta and Lidia — faced violence and trauma. Through the Kaqla processes, they found holistic healing, regaining their strength, memory and collective hope.

MUJERES MAYAS KAQLA

How long will it last? I don’t know. Until the sun dies

Yohana Conda’s life has been marked by violence and loss. Today, she is a community leader who supports other women and defends their rights.

CORPORACIÓN DE APOYO A COMUNIDADES POPULARES (CODACOP)

VOICES

Violence and its consequences

The Aq’ab’al Women’s Association is made up of women – including young women, Indigenous women and women of mixed heritage – whose aim is to help create equal…

ASOCIACIÓN DE MUJERES AQ’AB’AL (ASDEMUAQ)

Women resist oblivion

The land bears the marks of dispossession, but also of resistance. Listen to the podcast ‘Women Resist Oblivion’, a journey through Cesar, Magdalena and Nariño, where four women…

CORPORACIÓN JURÍDICA YIRA CASTRO

Technology and sexual and reproductive rights

Does technology expand our autonomy, or can it also limit our rights? In this episode, we discuss the relationship…

LA MESA POR LA VIDA Y LA SALUD DE LAS MUJERES

INTERVIEW

“We were women
asleep”

Yusleida Pineda tells us how the process initiated by Humanas with Zenú women has been a key pillar in the emergence of women’s leadership and peacebuilding.

CORPORACIÓN HUMANAS

Nepono: the leader who inspires her homeland

Nepono Carupia, a young Emberá woman who overcame her shyness to become a workshop leader, now brings joy to her community…

COMUNIDAD DE JURISTAS AKUBADAURA

The power of naming: paths that change lives

Evelyn Texaj, a young Kaqchikel Maya woman from Chimaltenango, is championing comprehensive sexuality education and…

INSTANCIA POR LA SALUD Y EL DESARROLLO DE LAS MUJERES / OSAR

FOKUS IN PICTURES

Fokus in pictures

In this photo gallery, we present an overview of some of the support provided to partners and events organised by FOKUS in Guatemala and Colombia. We also highlight the participation in national and international meetings…

LOOK FOR

GUATEMALA

“MAY THE WORDS AND THE STRUGGLE OF WOMEN NOT BE FORGOTTEN”

VIOLENCE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

INTERTWINED STORIES ON THE PATH TO HEALING

WOMEN RESIST OBLIVION

THE DECISION WAS MINE, NOT THE PATRIARCHAL SYSTEM´S

THE POWER OF NAMING: PATHS THAT CHANGE LIVES

COLOMBIA

“WE WERE WOMEN ASLEEP”

A VOICE THAT LEADS AND TRANSFORMS

SEEDS OF LEADERSHIP, ROOTS OF PEACE

NEPONO: THE LEADER WHO INSPIRES HER HOMELAND

A DECALOGUE FOR PEACEBUILDING

CALI: MEMORIES, DISPUTES, AND RE-EXISTENCES

Women’s social organisations are the place where women discover that they are not alone and that it is possible to build alternative ways of life.

Centro de Promoción y Cultura (CPC)

“We know that if I’m fighting against the violation of a right, it’s because there’s someone violating it, and of course that person isn’t going to like what I’m doing at all.”

Corporación de Apoyo a Comunidades Populares (CODACOP)

To transform perceptions, we must challenge the moral imperative and promote socio-cultural and territorial shared responsibility.

Fundación Oriéntame

Comprehensive sexuality education is a protective tool that enables girls to recognise risks and seek support.

Instancia por la Salud y el Desarrollo de las Mujeres / OSAR

‘If you got married, you just have to put up with it,’ they told her. She decided to leave.

Grupo Multidisciplinario por los derechos sexuales y reproductivos

Pain can be transformed into collective strength, and when memory is healed, it becomes the seed of a dignified life.

Mujeres Mayas Kaqla

We, as women, continue to create spaces for dialogue, care and advocacy through a variety of organisational processes.

Cartografía Sur

“Many of us used to think that physical and psychological violence was normal, but not anymore. Those women no longer put up with being hit. Now they’re speaking out.”

Comunidad de Juristas Akubadaura

The Kankuama women have forged leadership through their everyday lives, strengthening participation and territorial peace.

Cabildo indígena del Resguardo Kankuamo

“Yuli taught me to speak out,” says Osmarly, one of the young promoters.

Fondo Lunaria

“Asoremi has successfully raised awareness among victims, who have recognised the type of violence they suffer and have come forward to report it in order to heal.”

Asociación Red de Organizaciones de Mujeres Ixhiles (Asoremi)

Understanding the Peace Agreement has enabled us to claim our rights and pave the way for women’s leadership.

Corporación Humanas

CATEGORIES

FOKUS PHOTO. Hermelinda Magzul Patal, director of the organisation Mujeres Mayas Kaqla (Kaqla Maya Women) – Guatemala.