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.
Feminist Movements Defending Democracy in Guatemala
Last year, on October 2023, Indigenous women activists mobilized to resist corruption and protect democracy as incumbent factions sought to block the transition of power to newly elected President Bernardo Arévalo in Guatemala. For months, they rallied outside government buildings, risking their lives in a collective stand against corruption and injustice, reflecting a deep-rooted commitment to safeguarding democracy.
Our partner Asociación Grupo Integral de Mujeres Sanjuaneras (AGIMS), an Indigenous, women-led organization helped lead these efforts. AGIMS has long been a critical force in Guatemala, working to improve the lives of Indigenous women and standing at the forefront of recent pro-democracy movements. They led the physical resistance, demanding: an end to corruption, respect for Indigenous and women’s rights, and that elected officials be held accountable. They were instrumental in organizing protests and connecting with state authorities.
“Grassroots groups in Guatemala have been working on mobilizing against corruption, promoting accountability, and defending democracy for the past 10-15 years”
Asociación Grupo Integral de Mujeres Sanjuaneras (AGIMS)
How Global Fund for Women Spotted this Early Movement
Through our Gender Justice Data Hub, Global Fund for Women monitors unusual spikes in protest activity in order to identify key moments of feminist movement mobilization in 195 countries. Early tracking of Guatemala in March 2023 detected a surge in protests that signaled the rise of a pro-democracy movement. These insights were crucial in anticipating resistance efforts and channeling support to activists on the ground to fuel their impact. We then collaborated with a sibling feminist fund to provide AGIMS with immediate, flexible funding, enabling them to sustain their resistance and lead 106 days of protests. With this support, AGIMS successfully transitioned from physical resistance to strategic mobilization—engaging with state officials such as the newly elected president and the head of the women’s ministry, advocating for women’s rights, planning governance training for other Indigenous-led collectives, and supporting other grassroots groups’ attendance at national and regional convenings.
“With this government, there is an opportunity to work. We see interest in recognizing and supporting Indigenous communities. We've worked on proposals for years, and we'll succeed as long as the new government doesn’t block us. We are working for a plurinational Guatemala, fighting for our well-being (una lucha por el buen vivir).”
Asociación Grupo Integral de Mujeres Sanjuaneras
“We’ve had an impact at the community, municipal, national, and international levels. Now, AGIMS makes its own decisions without relying on others to open doors for us. We are funding our own activities.”
Asociación Grupo Integral de Mujeres Sanjuaneras
Pressing for Progress Beyond the Election
The fierce activism of AGIMS not only helped prevent the coup, but also secured Indigenous women a seat at the decision-making table with the newly elected government with the appointment of Esperanza Tubac, AGIMS’s General Director, to the Omduswomen Collective for the Defense of Indigenous Women. As AGIMS continues to hold the government accountable and push for meaningful reforms, their efforts underscore the incredible potential of supporting emerging movements in these fleeting windows of opportunity.
AGIMS continues to engage state authorities while fostering alliances with youth and gender-based violence movements, expanding their advocacy to address the intersecting needs of their communities. Their story exemplifies how feminist movements catalyze democratic change when have the financial resources they need. Guatemala’s former government reduced funding for gender-based violence programs and pushed transphobic and anti-abortion laws and norms. Yet through continued resistance, feminist movements in Guatemala have built bridges with the new government, demonstrating the importance of intersectional solidarity in social movements.
"One of the achievements that we have obtained to date as Indigenous women and organized peoples has been to dialogue with State authorities. Compared to previous governments, we have now achieved open dialogue that allows us to present and socialize the struggles and political demands of organized women and Indigenous peoples.”
Asociación Grupo Integral de Mujeres Sanjuaneras
From Guatemala to Kenya to the United States, feminist leaders are building a powerful global resistance—sparks of hope and justice in the face of growing authoritarianism. Their activism underscores the undeniable link between feminist organizing and democracy. By supporting these movements, we remain committed to building a future where democracy and gender justice go hand in hand.
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Core, flexible, multi-year funding means movements can decide for themselves how to spend their money. Feminist philanthropy can help sustain the resistance of feminist movements defending democracy in their countries and regions.
Make a donation to Global Fund for Women today and you’ll be supporting visionary gender justice changemakers making transformative change around the world.
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