COUNTRY BACKGROUND / OVERVIEW

Bolivia is located in the heart of South America and has varied ecosystems and cultural diversity in its different regions. The Bolivian territory is home to more than 11 million people and is characterized by a predominantly young population structure. Its economy is based on a logic of extracting its natural resources, but also has a strong commercial component.

Its geographical location in the Mediterranean makes its economic, commercial and political development very difficult. This situation is constantly addressed at the level of external relations but without much success

In the last decade, the rates of gender violence have increased, positioning Bolivia as one of the countries with the highest number of cases of violence against women in different forms, entrenched in a macho culture. Every 3 days there is a feminicide and 7 out of 10 women are victims of some kind of violence.

8 out of 10 children suffer some kind of violation of their basic rights, as a result of a system of lack of protection based on domestic violence and extreme poverty. There are 7 infanticides per month and 61% of the population is living in multidimensional poverty.

Another growing phenomenon that is beginning to be more visible is the trafficking in persons. Bolivia has become a country of origin and transit for this crime, increasing its statistics of victims by 20% in the last year.

Facts and figures

107/189 ranking of Human Development Index