Arriba el
feminismo
que va a vencer
The March 8th International Women’s Day march and its unprecedented numbers, as well as the National Women’s Strike the following day, demonstrated that the demand for women’s rights is stronger than ever. The green handkerchief, symbol of autonomy and freedom, embraced the fight against gender violence. Feminist protests flooded the streets with greater momentum. As the authorities’ repeated disdain became characteristic of the current administration, the pain of women and family members who were victims of human rights violations turned into rage, intensifying the demand for safety and the guarantee of a life free of violence.
Fed up with injustices and inequality, various expressions that, far from being heard and attended to, were criminalized and disqualified by those who have failed to guarantee the lives of women, girls and adolescents. The legitimate demands for justice have not obtained a response from the government, except endless actions and omissions that include a lack of understanding and empathy for victims.
The president decided to cut 75% of the budget allocated to the Federal Executive Power, affecting, among others, public trusts and institutions that are of great importance for victims of human rights violations. As a result of these austerity measures, the work of the Executive Commission for Attention to Victims (CEAV) was hampered, leaving more than 34,000 victims defenseless and without access to justice and comprehensive reparation.
The COVID-19 pandemic shocked the entire world. At GIRE, we adjusted our activities to virtual platforms as reproductive justice cannot be quarantined. Despite fear, loss and uncertainty we continue without stopping. We adapted our accompaniment protocol to reduce risks and strengthen alliances with lawyers in the states and with health service providers. The power of our collaboration with local organizations to strengthen advocacy work, and the value of our communication strategies to take advantage of social media and other tools at hand, became increasingly evident.