Casimira Rodriquez Romero honored for her struggle to improve the lives of young women working as household workers in Bolivia and throughout Latin America

Casimira Rodriquez Romero was honored in November with the 2003 World Methodist Peace Award for her work with domestic workers in Bolivia and throughout Latin America. At the age of fifteen, Casimira began advocating for the rights of household workers. Now, as an adult she continually strives to better the lives and working conditions of household workers in Latin America. Casimira has received tremendous national and international recognition for her struggle for equality and social justice. The World Methodist Peace Award was given to Casimira for her work with household workers, the strong Christian witness she brings to her work and the lives of the young women she meets.

Casimira was born in Mizque, Bolivia, a province near Cochabamba. The only girl in a family which lived in poverty, she became a domestic worker at the age of 13. Subjected to physical, mental and sexual abuse, she was treated as a servant, working her first two years without pay. Exploitation and discrimination of domestic workers was common. Casimira describes moments when she felt life was meaningless because she had been locked up in a very small world. Yet, through these experiences Casimira solidified her faith and states, "When I met the Lord my life started to be filled with hope and faith, because I realized God was with the poor, denouncing injustice and healing the sick."

As a teenager, Casimira received an invitation to join a household workers seamstress and literacy class. She was permitted to attend on Sunday, her day off. This class eventually led to the Domestic Household Workers Organization, and Casimira rose to become its leader. Twice she has been elected as the General Secretary of the National Federation of Household Workers in Bolivia.

In 2002 the Bolivian Parliament passed a Household Workers Law, a landmark piece of legislation granting protection from the mistreatment, aggression and near slave conditions of many household domestic workers. The bill was first introduced in 1992 and took ten years to become law. Casimira’s activism, prayer and struggle, along with other human rights organizations, resulted in this revolutionary legislation protecting human rights.

Casimira is currently the General Secretary of the Household Workers Confederation of Latin America and Caribbean Conference, which represents more than fourteen countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. She is a voice for countless women worldwide who have struggled under the brutal conditions of economic and gender injustice. Casimira states, "When I have a public interview or speech to make, I usually ask the Lord to speak through me, I ask Him to put the right words into my mouth." For many young women who have been abused under this horrific system, Casimira has been the voice of Christ.

The World Methodist Council began the World Methodist Peace Award in 1971 in Dublin, Ireland. Since then, 30 individuals or groups have received the award for their leadership in peace and reconciliation. The World Methodist Council Youth Committee actively works to identify and nominate young people committed to peace and justice.