Resistance to authoritarianism in Latin America: Feminist voices from rural movements in Ecuador
A panel discussion with Raquel Silva, a rice farmer from the province of Guaya, member the Unión Tierra y Vida and of the Red de Mujeres Rurales19.00-21.30
Save the Date
For Youths and Adults
in German/in Spanish/with live translation
Ecuador is in the midst of a deep crisis in terms of security policy and human rights. This crisis is linked to the growth of illegal economies and the intertwining of the state and organized crime. In rural areas, the agricultural and shrimp industries are on the rise, further exacerbating the human rights situation of small farmers.
The responses of the current right-wing conservative government to the country’s multiple crises are worrying. Under the presidency of Daniel Noboa, who himself comes from one of the most powerful families in the banana industry, democratic achievements are being dismantled, the country is becoming increasingly militarized, and human rights activists and journalists are increasingly being criminalized. This authoritarian restructuring of the state follows a regional and global trend.
On the occasion of International Women’s Day on March 8 and the UN Year of Women Farmers (2026), we will discuss the following questions with our guests:
- What impact do these developments have on the right to land, food sovereignty, and environmental justice from a feminist perspective?
- What specific threats do smallholder women farmers and women in rural areas face as a result of rising authoritarianism?
- Where are similar developments taking place in the region?
- What perspectives of resistance are activists offering in response?
Panellists
Foto credits: FIAN Ecuador