Rita Bell López Vences: “I wanted to accompany Indigenous women, but in reality, they have accompanied me.”

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

Her journey into politics began with a realization: “I worked at the Oaxacan Women’s Institute, focusing on health, safety, and violence against women. Every road led to the same conclusion—without women in politics, reforms would remain words on paper. We needed women in decision-making spaces to turn proposals into laws and public policies.”

Social norms on gender, she recognized, were even taught as part of her education. “I studied law at university, but it was taught full of stereotypes from a male perspective. So learning gender theory was a turning point in my life and joining the Women’s Institute changed my entire way of seeing justice and women’s lives. The gender perspective helps me question instructions—whether they are patriarchal or sexist—and gives me the courage to challenge them. It’s not easy to confront deeply rooted norms, but it’s necessary to transform them.”

She also notes that violence against women is another direct consequence of discriminatory social norms. In her role as a national advisor to the National Electoral Institute, Rita emphasizes: “We have received many reports of violence against women during campaign periods, but also once women take office. We know what this means for them: they feel threatened and intimidated, and this, of course, inhibits their political participation.”  

Referring to the high rates of online violence, Rita adds that it is “a reflection of our social reality. Social media has become a fertile ground for anonymously harassing and abusing women. We must raise awareness so that, working together—including political parties—we can put a stop to this violence.”

It is these experiences and the work she has done with people from diverse communities that she believes have shaped the intersectional approach she applies to her proposals and initiatives. “I wanted to support Indigenous women, because Oaxaca has a large Indigenous population. But in reality, they have been the ones supporting me. They have taught me, and that has been my greatest learning experience.”

For her, alliances are essential: “We women are excelling by working together in networks. We are dismantling the myth that women cannot collaborate. Horizontal working methods, diverse spaces for support, and mutual learning are our greatest strengths. That is why networking and sorority are so important.”