FLOR MARÍA RÍOS

Party: United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV)

Professional Training

• Communicator, certificate no. 33.922, 8^th graduating class, Central University of Venezuela, Department of Communications
• Degree in administration, Santa Maria University , School of Economic and Social Sciences

Specialized courses

• Strategic planning, Higher Institute of Administration Studies (IESA)
• Master’s studies in gender issues, Central University of Venezuela, School of Economic and Social Sciences (FACES), on-going
• Diploma in critical analysis of social reality, Armed Forces National Experimental University, Social Training Institute for Parliamentarians, NA
• Advanced political and social training course, Social Training Institute for Parliamentarians, NA

Social and political activities

• As a women’s rights activist, Ms. Ríos has been entrusted with several mandates by the national Parliament since 1998, including that of vice-chair of the women’s bicameral committee, where she actively participated in the inclusion of women’s proposals in the new constitution of Venezuela , which the Parliament approved in 1999.
• Member of the National Council for the Defence of the Rights of Children and Adolescents.
• Speaker in various forums and workshops on such subjects as the defence of women’s fundamental rights, equality and equity and sexual and reproductive health.
• Founder of Fremujer, an organization offering a training program to help women acquire leadership skills.
• Member of the National Assembly of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela since 1998.

Current chair of the Sub-Committee on Women’s Rights:

• Co-signatory with all the women’s organizations of the March 2005 Action plan to further women’s political and social aspirations.
• Coordinator of the drafting of the Organic Law on the Right of Women to a Life Free of Violence and sponsor of the bill at the National Assembly; the bill was assented to on November 25, 2005, with the participation of all the organizations and institutions fighting for women’s rights. This law made possible the creation of special tribunals and grounds of defence for women. It also helped increase public awareness of gender issues.
• Coordinator of the drafting of the Organic Law on Gender Equality and Gender Equity, which was passed on first reading in June 2008. The law provides, among other measures, for equal participation of men and women in politics.

Other parliamentary activities

• The Network of Women Parliamentarians of the Americas of the Parliamentary Confederation of the Americas (COPA): member of the Executive Committee, representative of the Network of Women Parliamentarians for the Andean Region and participant in the deliberations of the Committee on Health and Social Protection; interim chair in Quito, Equator, in 2006, where she presented a paper on the progress made in gender equality in Venezuela; currently vice-chair of that Committee.
• Rapporteur for the theme The Impact of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas  (ALBA) on women during the 7^th Annual Meeting of the Network in Mexico City in 2008.

Awards and decorations

Ms. Ríos has received various honours for her social work, including the following awards for her work in the defence of women’s fundamental rights:

• Order of Josefa Camejo: award and diploma conferred by the Central University of Venezuela, the Women’s Studies Center (CEM) and the CEM Foundation (FUNDACEM), in May 2007, in recognition of her work in promoting women’s rights.
• Order of Argelia Laya: award conferred by the National Institute of Women on International Women's Day, March 2007, for her outstanding contribution to the cause of women