06 June 2000

San Salvador, El Salvador: The signing of the 1992 peace accords in El Salvador brought an end to more than 12 years of civil war that resulted in a situation of poverty and social injustice in the Central American country. Women in particular have played a key role in national reconstruction and the introduction of democracy to help the people institute changes necessary in bringing about development.

Among the women working in this area are two UN Volunteers: Helen van Acker of Belgium and Maité Alemany of Spain. A social worker by profession, Helen started as a UNV gender in development consultant in January 1993. She laid the groundwork for a women's programme within a confederation of agricultural reform cooperatives in rural areas. She recalls that during the early days, the task was not always easy.

"My experience with the population in the countryside taught me many lessons which have proved useful. Working each day with the perspective of gender in development activities helped me understand how important it is to increase the autonomy of persons -- in particular women -- so that they can actively participate in their own development and promote justice through change." From 1995 to 1997, Helen sought to reinforce a new women's movement in the country by conducting literacy training for women.

"This active participation in the process of establishing the women’s movement convinced me of the major role played by women in the countryside and in cities to promote development and peace," she says. In 1998, she drew from her experiences and contacts with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) when she joined a UNDP gender team working with a number of international and national organizations and professions to hammer out strategies to address violence against women. The team launched a campaign along with development agencies for women in Latin America under the theme, "We have a right to life without violence."

Maité Alemany, a legal expert, has been in El Salvador since February 1999 to help bring about an equitable division of responsibilities between women and men. "The main objective of my work is to realize the will of the women to increase their autonomy at the local and national levels within the context of development strategies,” she says. Women are urged to become more active in politics, the economy and the culture of the country.

"We carry out team work where the members are also beneficiaries who are seeking to perpetuate the progress made in our development activities," she explains. Team members help women who have had to endure humiliation build up self-esteem. The UNV-assisted team teaches women how to denounce the acts of violence and provides advice on health care for women and their families. Maité is satisfied with her contribution in the gender-related activities in El Salvador. "My work is totally recognized in the team."