By Kaitlyn Degnan
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Over 200,000 people took part in demonstrations outside of the National Congress in Buenos Aires on Wednesday 4 June to protest violence against women. Smaller protests also occurred in 80 other cities around the country. Demonstrations were also held in neighboring Chile and Uruguay.

Demonstrators carried banners and badges bearing the slogan, “Ni una menos”, which means, “not one less.” Others wore t-shirts in support of the movement.

The demonstrations were organized by journalists, writers and artists following the news of the murder of Chiara Páez, a pregnant 14 year old by her 16 year old boyfriend. He allegedly beat her to death after learning she was pregnant.

Chiara’s death is only the latest in a string of instances of violence against women. In April, a kindergarten teacher (who had separated from her husband and had a restraining order against him) was killed when her husband stormed into her classroom and slit her throat in front of a group of children.

Another woman was shot by her estranged partner a mere two days before the demonstrations. She remains in serious condition.

Femicide – the killing of a woman by a man where her gender plays a role in the crime – is a growing issue in Argentina. Over 250 femicides have occurred each year since 2010. Activists have reported that a woman is killed in Argentina every 31 hours – culminating in over 1,800 deaths since 2008.

Many are calling for a change in culture to curb the violence, including Argentinian lawmaker Gabriela Alegre: “The current situation shows that legislation and prison sentences are not enough. We have to confront the problem by changing the culture and educating people.”

That attitude was echoed by La Casa del Encuentro, an NGO which provides counseling for abused women in Argentina. Head Fabiana Tunez spoke of “a society that is sick with machista attitudes where the woman continues to be seen as a thing to be dominated.”

The problem isn’t restricted to Argentina. Statistics suggest that over five women are killed in instances of domestic violence per day in Mexico, and as many as 15 per day are killed in Brazil.

Although Argentina has taken some steps towards curbing the issue, activists urge that it hasn’t been enough. The National Congress passed legislation in 2009 to prevent violence against women, and in 2012 passed laws initiating harsher sentences for femicide. However, despite these efforts cases of violence against women have still increased.

 

For more information please see:

AFP – Brutal murders show violence women face in Latin America – 2 June 2015

BBC – Argentine marches condemns domestic violence – 4 June 2015

Buenos Aires Herald – #NiUnaMenos: a deafening cry sweeps country – 4 June 2015

International Business Times – 200,000 rally against femicide and domestic violence in Buenos Aires – 4 June 2015

PanAm Post – Mass Protests Call Out Argentina’s Femicide Problem – 4 June 2015

The Independent – Thousands takes part in mass demonstrations to condemn violence against women – 4 June 2015

 

 

By Kaitlyn Degnan
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

 

BRASILIA, Brazil

Brazil’s government is increasing the pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Maduro has come under fire following the imprisonment of his government’s opposition because the Venezuelan government has continued to delay setting the date for Venezuela’s Parliamentary election, which should be held sometime this year.

President Maduro and his government’s popularity has decreased significantly since taking office two years ago, and current polls put Venezuelan opposition candidates ahead of Maduro. The opposition sees the election as a chance to capitalize on Maduro’s diminishing popularity.

Members of the opposition have expressed concern that the delay in scheduling the election is a sign that the election will not happen at all.

Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira met with Venezuelan officials this week, urging Venezuela to call the elections “as soon as possible and [to hold them] within the legal time frame.”

In a May 5^th vote, the Brazilian Senate passed a “no-confidence” vote against President Maduro and his government. Some Brazilian officials have publicly spoken out against President Maduro, especially what they have referred to as the “arbitrary detention” of Venezuelan opposition members.

The vote was passed despite opposition from the Workers’ Party, the ruling party in the Brazilian Parliament. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, a member of the Workers’ Party has called on Venezuela to set the date for the Parliamentary election.

President Rousseff has faced criticism for not taking a stronger stance against Maduro, with whom her Workers’ Party keeps close ties with. Brazilian centrist PSDB opposition party leader Aecio Neves has said: “A nation that has a president who was once a political prisoner cannot keep silent when it sees a neighboring country almost 90 political prisoners.” According to the New York Times, Rousseff was held prisoner for three years starting in 1970 by the Brazilian military dictatorship.

Rousseff refused to meet with the wives of two prominent imprisoned opposition members, Mitzy Capriles and Lilian Tintori, during their visit to Brazil on the 7^th. She did send a letter to the two, promising that Brazil was working “tirelessly” to find a solution. The two women met with members of the Brazilian Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee during their visit. Capriles’ and Tintori’s husbands have been imprisoned as dissidents for over 14 months.

For more information please see:

The New York Times – Leader’s Torture in the 70’s Stirs Ghosts in Brazil – 4 August 2012

PanAm Post – Brazil’s Senate Tells Maduro to Defend Human Rights – 6 May 2015

Folha De S.Paulo – Wife of Venezuelan Opposition Leader Expects Tough Stance from President Rousseff – 7 May 2015

Reuters – Brazil increases pressure on Venezuela to set election date – 7 May 2015

The Sydney Morning Herald – Brazil increases pressure on Venezuela to set election date, free political prisoners – 8 May 2015

Latin American Herald Tribune – Rousseff: Brazil is “Tirelessly” Seeking Solution to Venezuelan Crisis – 9 May 2015

 

 

 

 

By Delisa Morris

Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay — A 10-year-old girl in Paraguay has been denied an abortion that could save her life.  The girl, who is more than five months pregnant, was allegedly raped by her stepfather.

The child was admitted to the hospital with stomach pains when doctors discovered that she was 22-weeks pregnant.

Amnesty international is called on Paraguay’s government to allow the child to get the abortion for the sake of her health.  The mother also requested that the child be allowed to have an abortion, due to the high risk nature of the pregnancy.

The mother’s request was also denied by officials, as abortion is illegal in the South American country.  The girl’s mother is now in custody facing charges of breaching duty of care and being an accomplice of sexual abuse.

Guadalupe Marengo, America’s deputy director at Amnesty International, said Paraguay’s “restrictive” abortion law is in violation of international law.

“Forcing the girl to continue with the pregnancy would prolong the horror”, he said. “The physical and psychological impact of forcing this young girl to continue with an unwanted pregnancy is tantamount to torture.”

Health Minister Antonio Barrios told Paraguay’s ABC newspaper that a psychologist along with doctors were providing care to the girl.

“[T]here are no indications that the girl’s health is at risk… we are not from any point of view, in favor of terminating a pregnancy,” Barrios was quoted as saying.

Paraguayan health authorities have said that even if the abortion were allowed, they would not go ahead because it could be risky for the girl at such a late stage in pregnancy.

The Catholic church in Paraguay has weighed in on the debate, noting human life is sacred, and it starts at conception.

This isn’t Paraguay’s first run in with a domestic abuse pregnancy.  According to health statistics, 680 Paraguayan girls between 10 and 14 years old gave birth in 2014.

Two births a day occur among girls aged 10 to 14 in Paraguay, and many are the result of sexual abuse by relatives and stepfathers, according to the government.

For more information, please see: 

Reuters – Pregnant 10-year-old rape victim denied abortion in Paraguay –  5 May 2015

The Telegraph – Girl, 10, raped by stepfather, denied abortion in Paraguay – 30 Apr. 2015

CNN – Group presses Paraguay to allow abortion for raped girl, 10 – 4 May 2015

the guardian – To make a 10-year-old give birth isn’t just horrifying – it’s life threatening – 5 May 2015