Within the framework of the International Day of Violence Against Women, this Thursday marches, demonstrations and events were held in different countries of Latin America, to demand an end to the abuses against women.
A new report from UN Women, collects that 2 out of 3 women suffered some form of violence or knew a woman who suffered it. Unfortunately, only 1 in 10 said they would turn to the police for help.
The United Nations General Assembly established November 25 as the International Day of Violence Against Women in tribute to the murder of the sisters: Patria, Minerva and María Teresa Mirabal in the Dominican Republic, who were brutally murdered in 1960 by order of the dictator Dominican Rafael Trujillo.
The Mirabal sisters, called the Butterflies, were crystallized in the collective memory of feminist activists who 21 years later, in 1981, held the First Latin American and Caribbean Feminist Encounter in Bogotá, Colombia, and decided that each November 25 the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
Since then, every year, thousands of women around the world join various protests and demonstrations to demand more protection and measures in favor of abused women, a crime that over time has substantially increased the number of victims.
This Thursday marks the 30th anniversary of the 16 days of activism against gender violence campaign, originally launched by activists who participated in the inauguration of the Women's Global Leadership Institute in 1991 and, each year, continues under the coordination of the Center for Women's Global Leadership .
During the campaign that will run until December 10, the UN invites governments, civil society, women's organizations, youth, the private sector, the media and the entire United Nations system " to join forces to face global problems”.
Bolivian people marched in defense of women
This Thursday dozens of activists and relatives of victims of violence marched in different regions of Bolivia calling for an end to mistreatment and violence against women.
The mobilizations expressed the need for governments to work on the issue of impunity in cases of sexist violence and the scant response that exists in the country. They consider that these are fundamental measures to eradicate the mistreatment of women.
It is important to note that, according to UN Women, Bolivia currently tops the regional list with the highest number of femicides and this year there are 98 violent deaths in the country due to gender.
Ecuador raises its voice against violence against women
Likewise, in Ecuador there were marches, events in public places and messages on social networks to support the struggle of women for a life free of violence.
Social movements, asked the authorities to create new plans that contribute to the eradication of this problem that seriously affects the country, since according to data from the Council of the Judiciary of Ecuador, every 38 hours an Ecuadorian woman dies from acts of violence, even linked with robbery, kidnapping and other crimes.
"No more impunity, truth, justice and memory for women located without life," is the call made by the Association of Family and Friends of Disappeared Persons in Ecuador, to the national executive.
They present a proposal for the protection of the State against gender violence in Chile
For their part, Chilean women presented before the Constitutional Convention, a proposal to guarantee the protection of the State against gender violence.
The initiative seeks that the Chilean State generate policies to prevent, investigate and punish those responsible for all types of aggression against women. in addition to ensuring sufficient budget to generate promotion, prevention, training and education policies with a gender and human rights approach.
According to a report by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), last year more than four thousand femicides were registered in the country.
Dominican Republic joined the fight against violence against women
In the Dominican Republic, thousands of people joined a walk called "Living without Violence is Possible", the protesters carried out a tour at the rhythm of different slogans, which made reference to the fact that with union and work it is possible to eliminate the types of violence against women.
Likewise, talks and cultural presentations were held in different parts of the country to honor the struggle of women against gender violence.
Mercosur Launches Digital Campaign to Strengthen Fight Against Femicides
The Southern Common Market (Mercosur) launched a digital campaign this Thursday in order to sensitize citizens in the fight against gender.
The campaign will be disseminated on the digital communication channels of the Ministries of Justice, Interior and Security of the member countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) and will reinforce the importance of anonymity in the complaints made by the victim or the people who witness acts of violence against women.
