Ajá, So Why Not?
“We live in territories where our rights are still being violated,
but we have said: not one more.”
Luz Marina on her land
In Colombia’s Caribbean region, Luz Marina and Inilida are part of a long history of resistance.
They work the land, care for the water, and sustain life in their communities.
And yet, for a long time, they have been excluded from decisions about their own bodies and territories.
The right to land is also the right to remain, to live with dignity, to belong, and above all, the right to decide.
That’s why, for years, these women have not only cultivated the land, but also alliances.
They weave networks, train, and organise.
Inilida tending to her plants
“We thought: we are women who continue to defend our rights. Let’s get trained.”
In 2024, through the Caribbean Women’s Coalition —supported by Colombia’s National Land Coalition (NLC) They launched an innovative strategy as part of the Stand for Her Land campaign.
They called it: Ajá, So Why Not? Men Committed to Gender Equality.
A workbook, radio series, and, above all, spaces for dialogue has helped bring uncomfortable issues to the forefront: power, caregiving, fatherhood, women’s participation, and access to water and land.
In this context, Luz Marina and Inilida, and other women leaders, decided to create spaces for men to reflect on care, coexistence, and their role in building a life free from violence.
This strategy sought something profound:
transforming traditional masculanities to strengthen women´s land and territorial rights
“In our homes, women didn’t have the right to decide.
It was always the men who made the decisions. it’s not just about claiming rights, but also about changing daily practices, opening difficult conversations, and building new ways of living together. ”
Inilida puts it clearly:
It’s not just about claiming rights, but also about changing daily practices, starting difficult conversations, and building new ways of living together.
It hasn’t been easy.
There has been resistance at times.But little by little, and collectively, the strategy has carved out new paths.
It also brought in institutions such as the National Land Agency and local governments.
“We must keep going. We can’t stop here. We must continue transforming: the territory, the communities, and even the men who once harmed us.”
Inilida and Luz Marina are not walking alone.
They do so alongside many other women who, like them, are convinced that
gender equality in land governance begins in the home — but it doesn’t end there.
As a next step, they plan to build on what’s been achieved, deepen their work with public officials and open up new spaces for training and dialogue.
The goal is clear: more women with rights, more men committed, and more territories where equity can thrive.
To learn more about the strategy So, why not? Men committed to Gender Equality
CLICK HERE
