7:30 am breakfast
8:30 Women and Youth Political Leadership Program
Lourdes Palacios- Sub-Secretary of Transparency and Anti-corruption
Her Statement is as follows:
“The program focuses by implementing 3 strategies which demands respect for rights, diminish violence and increases political participation.
1. Transversal ideas that work is just not work, we implement gender training and teach in all levels of elections.
2. Empowerment by teaching basic leadership to strengthen all areas developed in 3 different formations of political economy.It involves by understanding the causes of capitalism and how this is affecting us.
3. Alliances, national and international by creating bonds with other social organizations.”
Rocio Ortiz- Communication manager
“Our job is extensive. There are 11 members divided in areas of work. Those areas include Formation of Politics, Arts, Culture, International Relations, and Women. We provide internships for students in the universities. We have diminished the percentage of the young from leaving the country. Currently, the youth live with a doubt and conformity with an excess to social media. Many young null their votes as a sign of rebellion. The youth secretariat has a counter strategy by implementing an opportunity by annulling their votes and giving direct access to the youth in all participation in the national convention. To be a mayor, the age limit is 21, to be a legislative deputy, the age limit is 25.
There are 3 fundamental components.
1. Political formation. The youth is capable to understand history national and international including interpretation.
2. Organizational capacity capable of organize from within the community and to be able to transform.
3. Capacity to mobilize, it organizes and mobilizes to just causes.”
12:00 pm lunch
1:00 Meddling Elections at UNAJUD with Ulises Rivas
Ulises Rivas Lawyer Magistrate Tribunal recently ousted from the TSE
“Currently I am suspended from the constitutional chamber. They say that I have links with parties. I appealed the decision. Our country voted for a party of flag and preference of a face. In 2014 without consulting there was a Cross vote has been established in which you can vote by marking 24 faces in a 240 face on the ballot. It has caused for many civilians to annul their vote and marking many faces. You can only vote for 24. Polling places close at 5pm. The day of elections when counting the votes it was 10 am and there were still many votes to count. It took 17 days for recounting votes, it was very confusing. The organization of American states recommended to simplify the votes. A lot of civilians do not want to work at the polling place because they feel that it is complicated and civilians are going to the court to excuse themselves from working at the poll or vote. There has to be 3 people out of 5 in a polling post in order to have a valid poll. The problem there is a simulation for a count record and the company was not able to find the right solution for this complex problem the transmission of the vote count. The problem is now more political. South Korea offered scanners with 1800 scanners that are able to pass the paper and read the paper by candidates and would give you the variables but many parties opposed to it. 10,000,000 was the cost of the scanners. We suggested technicians, engineers to look at the scanners. The Constitutional Chamber said that these scanners are coming from North Korea when in fact, is from South Korea. With the scanners, it would simplify the votes. Now a company INDRA is the one who will help count the votes. The current problem is that there are some organizations who are inciting civilians not to vote on March 4.
- Can you talk more about how you evaluate the decision of the supreme court is making these rulings about elections?
“-the magistrates 2 of them did not follow the process how the law follows. They were elected by the presdent when in fact, they have to be elected by the assembly. These magistrates were not elected the right way. Belarmino Jaime y Rodolfo Gonzalez are lawyers. There is a process in which they have to be nominated. A list of nomination has to be placed. 2 hours prior from the votes, Funes and Christiani had a discussion at their similar version of the white house and these two were elected in an irregular manner. They will know about constitutional rights but lack electoral rights. If civilians decide not to vote, you will need to respect. What has been done with cross vote is to divide their vote. Only Luxemberg, Domincan Republic and El Salvador has these complex voting systems.”
- what is the issue with the court is that factual incorrect or legal analysis?
“Our constitution regulates that all civilians under 18 can form a political party and vote. San Jose Pact from ONU state similar to the American Convection states that states must motivate civilians to vote, associate, or leave. They come and say if one person is affiliated to one party is going favor or have interests. That is independent they can join other party if they want. However, it is not permitted, judges should be impartial. They understand but do not accept because of Judicial Political Activism. We see to other latitudes in the U.S. things are done different. In the U.S. it is permitted but it is not permitted here. I have many friends from other parties from the university but I am not going to resign my friends just because the constitution says to. This place is the Union of Lawyers for Justice and Democracy house of lawyers. On 2014 elections, we made 2 parties for Christmas and the National Day of Lawyers, in those parties we invited a few candidates from various parties. Saca , and Quijaco. Also, Oscar Ortiz was going to come but the day of the party Sanchez Seren came and we welcomed him. We offered our support. It was about 600 lawyers and we took a video. The video was published and was considered party links for me. It was said that I was his nephew but we are not related. I have proof that I have never been a member of a political party or donor signed by the secretary of electoral tribunal.”
4:00 Las Febes
Ana Alicia Funes ISSS Instute for social security public hospital.
Vilma Vazquez co-founder of Las Febes
Claudia Vidomina Escobar General Secretary of the Workers Union co-founder of the Febes
Liset radical journalist in charge of communication
Nilset Funes Directiva del centro nacional del registro
“Las Febes is an association for women from different sectors that decide to organize programs. We take the name of Febes because during the 80’s a strong woman, Elizabeth Velazquez had a lot of leadership, we took her name to keep her legacy. She was assassinated during an attempt in October 31, 1989 in the FINASTRA headquarters. 10 men and women died. This year is the symbol date we commemorate union activist. Our context Febes is an idea implemented by the syndicates which do not respond for women with the majority of women working and little participation in union movements. We make an feminist idea with a clear class to re-indicate to a fight with a structural change with an economic change to change the patriarchal change. We are leftist revolutionary women, strong women, feminist women. The objective is to go places that exist feminine workers to mobilize women in labor demands. Makes sure they have political formation. The sectors, our jobs is the domestic sector. We have been 3 years in the domestic worker’s union that can permit women to demand the assembly to ratify 189 convention and labor codes that can provide benefits and to have labor rights. Work in 3 sectors for domestic workers, Informal sector is the majority women, ambulant workers, that responds to a neoliberal economy that has displaced them with precarious conditions. We worked with sex workers in 2011 that is another world that women for many years have worked to survive because of this, we almost completed this sector and had to stop. There was an attempt with one of our activists. Our job is risky because it is a sector that is surrounded by gangs in the organized crime. We are now trying to start this sector again. We have been supporting the women in maquilas it is a vulnerable sector. It is a less vulnerable than the other two because there are rights already implemented but are still exploited.”
Given the past attempt and the obstacles when reaching sex workers, how is the organization trying to re-start the sector?
“We have a partner Ingrid, general secretary for sex workers who lived after being shot with five bullets. Karla died. Sex workers have a relationship with the mayor’s office District 1 and 6. They have a small business in a colonial area to meet in small committees for protection.”
6:30 pm Dinner
Bay Area Movement 