PARLACEN promotes roadmap to empower women in municipal development
The Municipal Affairs Commission of the Central American Parliament (PARLACEN) has taken a firm step towards gender equality with the presentation of a strategic proposal to advance women’s rights from the territories. The initiative was presented during the I Dialogue Table titled Women’s Empowerment in municipal tourism development for Sustainable Regional Tourism Integration, held at the Auditorium of the Senate of the Dominican Republic.
Catalina Olea Salazar, president of the aforementioned commission, led the presentation of this work schedule, which seeks to go beyond traditional diagnoses to implement concrete actions in the municipalities. The action plan is designed to be executed from October 2026 to March 2027, with the goal of turning recognized rights into tangible realities for citizens.
In the Commission of Municipal Affairs and Citizenship Development of the Central American Parliament, we believe in integration that is born from the territory, from the local level, from you.
Catalina Olea Salazar, President of the Municipal Affairs Commission of PARLACEN.
Tourism as an engine of economic autonomy
The keynote address was delivered by Ileana Jiménez Naranjo, Deputy Director for Latin America and the Caribbean of the Mexican Senate, who emphasized that tourism is a powerful tool for female growth. According to Jiménez Naranjo, the positive impact occurs when women stop being just employees to become producers, entrepreneurs, artisans, and leaders of their own communities.
- Facilitate access to financing and technical training.
- Create municipal networks of women linked to the tourism sector.
- Implement digital tools to connect local businesses with new markets.
- Develop community tourism routes that integrate diverse local actors.
Persistent challenges in gender equality
During the event, Elianny Medina, a representative of the UNDP, presented data reflecting the urgent need for this roadmap. In the Dominican Republic, the gaps remain notable: 15.2% of women lack their own income and spend significantly more time on unpaid domestic work than men. Furthermore, although women surpass men in higher academic training, their labor income is usually 20% lower than that of their male peers.
Action schedule
The process to consolidate these municipal rights will continue on October 20th at the VI Regional Forum of Municipalist Women, which will serve as a consultation space. Following a technical construction phase between November and December, the final validation of the roadmap is expected to be completed before the end of March 2027.
The event featured a prominent presence of authorities, including congresswoman and former Vice President Margarita Cedeño, diplomats from Morocco and Cuba, as well as representatives from public institutions and the academic sector, reaffirming the regional commitment to integration and local development.
