Its election time for all of Colombias 1100 mayors.  The race in every town is fierce and large claims are being made about how things will change with this candidate or that candidate. Like the world over. What appears to be different is the participation of women.

Its not an easy job here.  In April 2003, in one year alone, 13 mayors and 70 council workers had been assassinated by the FARC guerillas, and towns held hostage.  It worsened to the point where the federal government issued bulletproof vests and cars to mayoral staff and increased army security in 77 targetted towns.  The program of peasant soldiers, young men and women recruited and placed in their own towns, has been hugely successful in increasing local confidence. 

The amount of women participating in elections here is enormous. Even here in the biggest municipality of Bogota (8mill people) half of the candidates are women and the youngest is 20a little dynamo who dances her way through interviews and wears low cut jeans and talks of making Bogota liveable (aka Soorley, Giulianiand so on).

What Australia talks and legislates about and what activists have worked so hard to see as a reality, remains just hot air. But it happens here. Watching the news of President Uribes visit to the UN and the White House last week, it was heartening to see his vocal entourage of 3.his deputy, a male. His Armed Forces Minister, Marta Lucia Ramirez, and his international relations minister, another woman. Both very tall, commanding, and towering over Uribe who is very short. Ramirez is formidable. She holds in her hands the third most powerful armed forces in the world.  Army, navy (Colombia has two volatile ocean borders to patrol and a constant battle with Nicuaragua over some islands), and the airforce.  Recently one of her generals criticized one of her decisions in public and was brought to heel in such an embarrassing manner it was difficult to watch his apology.  Carolina Barco Isackson is the Minister for External Relations. Women hold portfolios in Communication, Environment, Education, Culture (in a country where 78 of 188 senate seats are held by indigenous people), Social Protection, with Vice Ministries in many areas including Justice.

I have seen more women heads of government departments and utilities here than anywhere else, despite all the rhetoric you hear in other countries. 

And in the home what does it look like?  I cant tell much more than my observations. I find most Colombian women formidable. Strong, forthright, and determined. I feel like a mouse next to them.

It doesnt mean that the usual violence against women doesnt happen here. It does.  But its heartening to see women in positions of power.and not feel a terrible depression witnessing people like Carmen Lawrence crucified by a male mafia..

From the mouse that roared.