| In February 2013, Bolivians learned about the horrendous murder of reporter Hanali Huaycho by her husband, who stabbed her multiple times and abused her during their marriage. Hanali s death was the impetus for the passage of Bolivian Law 348, which deals with sixteen types of violence against women, including feminicide (the murder of women and girls because they are female). Despite the passage of Law 348 in March 2013, reported feminicides increased from 99 in 2012 to 110 in 2013. In 2016, 104 women were victims of a feminicide in Bolivia. Known as the Comprehensive Law to Guarantee Women a Life Free from Violence, Law 348 addresses the prevention of violence, protection for victims, and the punishment of aggressors. While Law 348 is significant for women's rights in Bolivia, I argue that it does not guarantee women a life free from violence without proper implementation. As such, I conducted qualitative interviews with five professionals in La Paz, Bolivia in May 2016 and additional research to explore the implementation of Law 348 in Bolivia. Interview participants provided valuable insight regarding the progress and deficiencies of Law 348. Throughout this research, I employ an intersectional approach to understand the historical and structural challenges that Bolivian women face. According to Bolivia's census from 2012, 40% of Bolivian women over the age of 15 self-identify as indigenous. Intersectionality provides a lens to understand how race, ethnicity, class, and gender impact Bolivian women, indigenous and non-indigenous, especially as it relates to policy solutions for ameliorating violence in their lives. This research finds that the implementation of Law 348 is hindered by the following: lack of financing and specialized officials; the law's emphasis on punishment over prevention; and a lack of addressing structural inequalities facing Bolivian women, particularly indigenous women. I propose that the creation of a Women's Ministry in Bolivia would help to address each of these issues, creating policies and programs that respond to the varied needs of Bolivian women. |
