WJI is building a more equitable world for Mayan women and girls by combating gender inequality and violence against women and girls. Through an innovative community-based approach, WJI is improving the lives of women and girls by increasing their access to justice and improving their ability to exercise their rights to live free from violence.

WJI believes that community-based responses are critical to successfully combating gender-based violence and gender inequality in rural Guatemala. Without support from their communities, women and girls face significant obstacles in exercising their rights to live free from violence. In response, WJI works closely with key community leaders and stakeholders to build a response to inequality and violence that is developed by and for their communities.

WJI addresses the challenges indigenous Maya-Kaqchikel women face by providing free, culturally grounded, legal aid, bilingual education, leadership training, and empowerment initiatives in 24 communities in rural Guatemala through its four programs: Women’s Rights Education, Legal Services, Community Advocates, and Adolescent Girls.