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From UN Headquarters, Maya embroiderer from Mexico calls for safeguarding Yucatecan textile art and the condition of Mexican women artisans
New York, March 14, 2024 - At the side event "Fighting Poverty and Empowering Women through Living Heritage" to the 68th session of the (CSW), Cándida Jiménez Bojórquez, a Maya embroiderer from Maní, Yucatán, shared some of the results of the UNESCO's comprehensive project with a gender perspective through textile art in Yucatán.
Cándida explained how cultural and gender perspectives guide this project for the economic and social improvement of women embroiderers and called on authorities to recognize and maintain their cultural heritage safely and improve the conditions of women artisans by opening more spaces for sales and exhibitions.
Likewise, she sent a message to men to get involved in the art of embroidery and break gender stereotypes through living heritage, as this work, she said, is not exclusive to women:
I didn't have a professional career, but what better career for me than being an artisan embroiderer
UNESCO organized the side event to the CSW, which along with CEDAW sessions is one of the main UN meetings on gender equality and the state of women. This year, it was organized around the priority theme "Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective."
To tackle the current scenery and encourage structural transformations, UNESCO is implementing the project "Economic and Social Development with a Gender Perspective through Textile Art" in 12 municipalities of Yucatán, with the support of Banorte Foundation and the collaboration of the Ministry of Culture and Arts, the Ministry of Women, and the Yucatecan Institute of Entrepreneurs of the Yucatan Government.
In the initiative, UNESCO identified that the overall average earnings of embroiderers were only 4%, with municipalities showing losses ranging from 34.3% to 75.3% at the beginning of the project in 2023. After a year and the participation of over 300 embroiderers, Cándida pointed out that positive transformations have been achieved, including the involvement of 95 men, through the axis on masculinities articulated by UNESCO to promote awareness and counteract existing gender-based violence and biases.
Cándida emphasized the call to authorities to take action or implement tools to protect their heritage and the quality of life of its bearers, such as the initiative to establish a certification of authenticity and the initiative for the state declaration of Maya-Yucatecan Embroidery as Intangible Cultural Heritage, which will be discussed in the plenary session of the Yucatán Congress on March 18; a recognition that would not only highlight the cultural and symbolic importance of embroidery but also promote concrete actions for its preservation and promotion in the 106 municipalities of the state.
Loreto Villanueva Trujillo, Secretary of Culture and Arts of Yucatán, also participated and highlighted the comprehensiveness of the project, particularly the work with men: "Sexism (machismo) is one of the main barriers for embroiderers, and it is important to work with them on responsible masculinities that support the work of women artisans."
On the other hand, Jimena Prado Lebrija, Director of the Banorte Foundation, commented that the financial group is convinced of the potential of women from different communities, so it will continue to promote their participation in decision-making within their families and communities.
We need to open ways for future generations of women. We will continue to create alliances, financing, and training to eliminate poverty and inequalities that exist in all communities and states of Mexico. That is why Cándida's testimony here is important.
The 2024 session of the CSW also included textile artisans and embroiderers: Juana Bravo, from Michoacán, and Carmen Vázquez, from Chiapas, who are part of the Advisory Council of the Original Movement, one of the main programs of the Ministry of Culture of Mexico, which promotes cultural, individual, and collective rights, particularly through textile art. During the visit, the embroiderers met with national and international authorities to share their experiences and visited cultural spaces in New York.
