Overview
In Mexico’s coastal communities, sustainable tourism is paramount for livelihoods. However, ecotourism landscapes remain under stress due to competing land use activities, contamination of water resources, and climate change – which have contributed to increases in social tensions and marginalisation that exacerbate physical and sexual violence at the family and community levels. In addition, sexual harassment in tourism workplaces harm women in the sector and disincentivizes their participation. In Mexico, Espacio de Encuentro de las Culturas Originarias, A.C. (EECO) is partnering with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Mexico under the RISE grants challenge to address the prevalence of gender-based violence across two tourism landscapes with three protected areas in the Yucatán Peninsula and Oaxaca. Together, partners will engage local communities to integrate gender perspectives and gender-based violence risks within regulatory instruments and promote the economic empowerment of women as gender-based violence prevention and mitigation strategies in ecotourism.
