Catherine Juvinao: “Fighting for Equality and Transforming Politics in Colombia”

^{Catherine Juvinao in Panama City for the WYDE | Women’s Leadership Regional Convening. Photo: UN Women/Jose Daniel Espinosa.} 

Catherine Juvinao Clavijo is a Colombian congresswoman, journalist, and civic activist currently serving as Representative to the Chamber for Bogotá with the Alianza Verde party. Since her election to Congress in 2022, she has championed initiatives focused on transparency, accountability, the fight against political privilege, the protection of women and children, as well as education reforms and oversight of public officials. In her interview, Catherine shares some of the challenges she faced as a woman in politics but also highlight the important legislative wins and achievements for gender parity in Colombia.

Catherine Juvinao the calling of politics early on. “I probably knew that politics was my path from the age of six,” she recalls. “My father, who is my political role model, taught me what it meant to feel pain at injustice. I saw him cry for the first time when presidential candidate Luis Carlos Galán was assassinated. From that moment, I understood that those of us who have had privileges, family, home, food, education, have a personal, ethical, and moral duty to fight so that everyone has the same opportunities.”

Her conviction is clear: “We cannot settle for living in privilege. When some of us break through glass ceilings, we must do everything we can to level the playing field for the rest of society.”

As a woman in politics, Catherine encountered many forms of violence. “I have experienced many types of violence—economic, sexual, symbolic, psychological, verbal, and digital. And if you ask me: Is it worth continuing to fight despite all the violence? Yes, it is worth it. Because more and more women are transforming the world and our territories. When one arrives, we all arrive.”

But change requires collective effort: “The world we want—a safe world for women—will not come about on its own. We have to push for it, hand in hand with men, from all spaces: the streets, the media, academia, and politics. This struggle, although it draws on those who came before us, is really just beginning.”

Breaking barriers in politics is a challenge faced by many women across the globe. “When we break down one barrier, another appears. However, there are things that help: never be discouraged, keep raising your voice, and build networks of support and empowerment among ourselves, and also with men. I believe change must include them, through building new masculinities and leaving behind archaic models. When we establish that dialogue, magic happens, transformations happen.”

Catherine’s legislative work reflects her commitment to equality. “In Colombia, barriers preventing women from entering politics are economic, cultural, and social. For decades, we’ve worked on institutional arrangements to change these structures. The parity law is one example, it requires that at least 50% of senior public positions at national and regional levels be held by women.”

Progress has been made, but challenges remain. “Currently, political participation laws require that at least 30% of electoral lists include women. We are now processing a law to make it 50%, and I am sure we will achieve this.” In Colombia, other key reforms are levelling the playing field: “We passed a law to prevent and punish political violence against women in 2024. It includes measures to stop parties and corporations from perpetuating violence and punitive tools to sanction aggressors. We are also working on legislation to support women politicians who are mothers—breastfeeding facilities in public institutions, maternity leave without losing political rights, and remote voting options using technology.”

Despite progress, Catherine insists there is more to do: “This Congress, the first with 30% women, has advanced many initiatives on the women’s and gender agenda. But in the next elections, we hope to reach at least 50%, because Colombia will only change with more women in politics. More women in politics changes politics, changes the country, and ultimately changes the world.”