Artisanal fishing women meet and organize to consolidate their leadership in Atacama

Compañía Minera del Pacífico (CMP), in direct line with its purpose, seeks to promote gender equity, highlight the role of women and contribute to their sustainable development in the territory. In this sense, the company has joined the initiative Mesa de la Mujer de la Pesca Artesanal y Actividades Conexas de Atacama, which seeks to consolidate its leadership in the region and provide opportunities to promote their work. All this in conjunction with the regional government and the respective communal governments.

Under this slogan, two fruitful meetings have been held to date. In the first, held in Caldera, the more than 50 participants shared their personal and collective experiences, analyzing and defining the elements that should be considered in the public management of the corresponding agencies. In addition, five round tables were formed during the day, based on key issues in the planning of support programs and instruments: health; education and training; habitability, connectivity and basic services; security; and productive development.

Recently, at the second meeting held at CMP's Las Tablas Country Club in Freirina, the women drew up a work agenda based on the results obtained at the aforementioned roundtables. As in the first meeting, the activity was attended by the regional governor, Miguel Vargas; the mayor of Freirina, César Orellana; executives from Compañía Minera del Pacífico; and authorities and professionals from various ministerial secretariats.

This second meeting in the province of Huasco had among its participants representatives and delegates of fishing throughout the region, including Teresa Nilo, from Freirina, president of the La Reina Union and delegate of the Artisanal Fisheries in Chile, who said: "our women are very important in all decision-making, so it is essential that they understand the development that can be achieved through this regional roundtable".

Regarding the joint work, the Sustainability Manager of Compañía Minera del Pacífico, John Patrick McNab, explained the company's commitment to this type of initiative.

"We believe in the value of diversity and female integration, especially in decision-making, and this approach has differentiated CMP from other mining companies and Chilean companies in general. As is the case in our processes, we are sure and convinced that a greater inclusion and valuing of each of these women will improve the search for solutions and opportunities in the region's artisanal fishing sector," he said.

The regional governor, Miguel Vargas, said after the second assembly that "it has been a great meeting. I want to appreciate the commitment of Compañía Minera del Pacífico, a company that makes its contributions and is committed to development. From this virtuous alliance of the regional government, local governments, private enterprise and the active participation of women, I believe we can make progress on urgent demands".

Yasmina Cortés, CMP's Superintendent of Territorial Management, said that "these meetings make the work of the committee visible, but also highlight that public and private alliances are necessary to develop initiatives in direct response to the problems affecting women in artisanal fishing in Atacama".

Sara Garrido, president of the National Corporation of Artisanal Fishing Women, said: "I believe that the work that has been done in the region, especially through the delegates that we have here, is undoubtedly giving results. We are seeing what they were really waiting for, to make visible and listen to the demands and needs they have in the territories".

Finally, the mayor of the commune of Freirina, César Orellana, said that "as a municipality we are very pleased to be able to participate in this exercise, listening very attentively to their needs and problems. The important thing is not just to keep the words, but to see in practice that the women of the coastal sector are being considered, and that their dreams and challenges can materialize".