The Panos Institute reports that gender violence causes more death and disability in Bolivia among women aged 15–44 than do cancer, malaria, traffic accidents, or war. Around 50 percent of woman from a variety of living circumstances throughout the country have admitted to being subject to physical abuse or intimidation in their lifetime. This is an astonishingly high percentage considering that the World Bank stated that only 2 to 8 percent of sexual abuses against women were ever reported, compared to 62 percent of assaults. The vast majority of these threats come from within the family, thus keeping women from not reporting the aggressions. Data about violence against women is unclear due to cultural restrictions; however, it is easy to see that the majority of women living in Bolivia today will directly or indirectly face sexual or physical abuse during their lives.

Bolivia also has the highest rate of maternal mortality in Latin America and the Caribbean, with the exception of Haiti. It has the lowest prevalence of prenatal care in Latin America (52 percent), while qualified personnel attend only 46 percent of deliveries. Women have little access to cervical cancer screening, contraceptive methods, or education about sexual health of any kind. With 57 percent of Bolivian women engaging in sex before the age of 20 (highest in Latin America), education is absolutely critical in reducing these statistics and ensuring reproductive health for women of all backgrounds.

The subordinate roles women play in Bolivian society, combined with their lack of education, result in a severe problem that does not have a voice. Women do not have the economic ability to separate themselves from oppressive, violent situations. FSD works at the grassroots level to empower socioeconomically excluded women and provide the resources and knowledge needed to mobilize change. Our partner NGOs provide women opportunities to gain job skills, start microenterprises, borrow money, live in safe communities, and become educated in all aspects of health. Applied solutions are well integrated into local customs and recognize the sensitivity of changing a culture that has channeled violence and anger through women for many generations.

Read more about Women's Empowerment programs and opportunities initiated by our Community Partners in Bolivia.

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