First in-person “Cafè amb Les Elegides” held with elected women from Bolivia and Mallorca

This marks the first face-to-face exchange of the year, following several previous online interactions such as joint training sessions and knowledge-sharing workshops involving elected representatives from both the Global North and South.

The gathering brought together around ten locally elected women from Mallorca, representing various political parties, alongside Bolivian councillors Leidy Gumán (from the municipality of Minero) and Yusmara Melena (from the municipality of Cobija), who are currently on an institutional visit to the island.

Throughout the event, participants shared experiences and reflections on the common challenges faced by women in elected office, focusing in particular on gender-based violence—including symbolic, institutional, and physical forms. Other central topics included the importance of building networks of mutual support and care among women in politics, as well as the ongoing struggles to reconcile political careers with care responsibilities, which continue to disproportionately fall on women, especially in traditionally patriarchal societies.

The session also featured the technical team from the Fons Mallorquí, responsible for the Les Elegides project, who presented the activity report covering the program’s first three years. Additionally, the event provided a space to preview the themes for the upcoming Second Meeting of Elected Women of Mallorca, set to take place this November, aimed at further strengthening women’s roles in local governance.

One of the most noteworthy aspects of the event was the diversity of participants, both in terms of political affiliation and geographic background — a richness that greatly enhanced the dialogue and demonstrated a shared commitment to building fairer and more inclusive spaces for political decision-making.