Event Summary
The Ministry of Education and Science (MEC) of Paraguay issued Resolution No. 1803 on November 7, 2025, mandating the removal of the word “gender” from all educational materials, both printed and digital. This extends a previous resolution (No. 29664 from 2017) that banned the use of gender theory and ideology in schools. Social organizations, such as FEIPAR, have strongly criticized this new resolution, arguing that it violates constitutional principles of equality, freedom, and pluralism, and represents a setback for human rights and civic education.
Critics argue that limiting the discussion to “equality between men and women” neglects the broader social power dynamics and the formation of gender stereotypes, leading to the inequalities experienced by women and girls in Paraguayan society. Teachers’ unions have voiced concerns that this move signals a regression in educational policy and democracy, with some suggesting religious groups, particularly evangelical sectors, are influencing the decision. Pro-life groups have celebrated the resolution, claiming it protects children.
The decision aligns with a broader trend of excluding the term “gender” from public policy, reflecting the government’s stance that the gender approach, what they term “gender ideology,” undermines national sovereignty and promotes anti-rights positions. The exclusion of the word “gender” contradicts its use in Paraguay’s National Development Plan 2030, as well as in various public bodies and programs, such as the Gender Secretariat of the Supreme Court and the “Equality Action Plan” under the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development.
Overall, this move highlights the ongoing struggle in Paraguay over gender rights, with the government continuing to prioritize binary gender recognition and downplay gender diversity. Part of this trend is the proposal to replace the Ministry of Women with the Ministry of the Family. It perpetuates anti-NGO narratives claiming that the so-called “gender ideology” constitutes a “loss of sovereignty” or “foreignization promoted by NGOs/CSOs” and signals further regression of gender equality, expected to affect also equal participation in civic life.