As Puerto Rico struggles to recover from multiple turmoils, including an economic crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, another crisis plagues the territory: rising violence against women. In the past two weeks, Puerto Rican media has reported the killings of three women and an attack to a transgender woman.
According to data from Puerto Rico’s Gender Equality Observatory, at least 37 direct and indirect femicides have been registered in the island from Jan. 2020 to Sept. 2020.
Hundreds of Puerto Ricans took to the streets demanding that the government take action, and urging Gov. Wanda Vázquez to declare a state of emergency. Protesters held signs in Old San Juan that read, “Estado de Emergencia YA,” (“State of Emergency Now,” in English) and “Ni Una Más Ni Una Menos,” (which roughly translates to “Not One More, Nor One Less”).
Puerto Ricans take the streets of Old San Juan to protest violence against women. Today, #PuertoRico is mourning the loss of dozens of women who have died due to violence. #NiUnaMas #NiUnaMenos pic.twitter.com/VqHIe1CMCE
— Cristina Corujo (@cristina_corujo) September 29, 2020
Hours before the protest, authorities confirmed the death of Rosimar Rodríguez, a 20-year-old woman who was kidnapped on Sept. 17 and found dead inside a car in Dorado, Puerto Rico. Officials are still investigating her death.
Two days after Rodríguez was found dead, Michelle Ramos Vargas, a transgender woman, was fatally shot in San German, Puerto Rico. A week later, Nashaly Cristina Torres, 22, was killed in Villalba, Puerto Rico.
As of Oct. 5, at least 12 women, including five underage girls, remained missing in Puerto Rico, according to Puerto Rico’s Gender Equality Observatory.
MORE: Shooting kills 6 in Puerto Rico, leads to emergency meeting
The situation, unfortunately, is nothing new for the island. But still, activists, nonprofit organizations, community and state leaders and citizens are continuing to plead for change. Most recently, a movement against violence toward women erupted on social media.
“Before Hurricane María and Irma, we had denounced a call for a state of emergency because we had seen how all the institutions were not addressing the issue as a priority,” said Lourdes Inoa Monegro, the program director at Taller Salud, a nonprofit feminist organization that’s been helping women deal with the ongoing violence against them. Continue Reading>>
