Colombian girls and adolescents are in danger

10 de julio

Angie Lorena Nieto was sexually abused and murdered on January the 1st in the municipality of Cabuyaro, Meta at 12 years old. Three months later, on March 30th, 11-year old Diana Tatiana Rodríguez was raped and murdered in the city of Buenaventura. Angie Carolina Pineda Sierra was also killed on May the 11th at 14 years old in Cúcuta. Jazmine Adriana Martínez was tortured, raped, and murdered on June 17th with 17 years old. Recently on July 3rd a 12-year-old Indigenous girl from the Emberá people was murdered in the department of Risaralda. According to the National Institute of Forensic Medicine, in Colombia approximately 55 girls and adolescents are raped on a daily basis, and every third day one of them is brutally killed.

comunicado ninasThe Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF Colombia) as a feminist pacifist and anti-militarist organization condemns the mentioned facts of violence against women and expresses its concern about the situation of girls and adolescents in the different territories of Colombia. The figures are alarming with an 87% of medical and forensic examinations being conducted on children and adolescents, of whom 85% were women and 41,9% were girls between the ages of 10 to 13. Out of these girls under 18, 5.713 were pregnant. A stated by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine in Colombia from January until May 2019 there have been 288 homicides against this segment of vulnerable population.

It is not only about the figures. According to women leaders from the Caribbean sub region of Montes de María, the situation in their region is worrisome. Cases are recurrent, where parents and inhabitants in general are silenced: “It seems like talking about sexual violence equals talking about the unknown. There is fear to what others may think, so it is nearly impossible for the families to disclose any information or testimonies of sexual abuse suffered by boys and girls.” This is the main reason why very few cases of sexual violence are reported, added to the fact that most of them are perpetrated by family members or close members of the community. Another obstacle as declared by one of the women leaders is the lack of psychosocial attention for these girl victims, who go into adulthood without any psychological support.

The department of Meta is the third largest with more cases of sexual abuse in Colombia. With the expansion of criminal networks, sexual harassment and constant stalking towards girls and adolescent are an everyday phenomenon. This is a circumstance aggravated by the lack of professional opportunities and of public policies. On May 25th, it was celebrated the National Day for the Dignity of Victims of Sexual Violence. WILPF Colombia provided accompaniment and support to the peaceful protest of girls and women in the town of Vista Hermosa, Meta who reclaimed dignity through messages such as: “For my body’s dignity I scream, I invite all men and women to protect our bodies” demanded adolescent of Vista Hermosa. Based on the cases previously exposed of sexual violence, which is replicated all along the Colombian territory, we call upon government institutions to set their alarms and defend the rights of girls and adolescents. We want to issue an e special demand to the Ministry of National Education for them to guarantee that schools and educational facilities can have safe spaces for girls and adolescents to report and create a healthy dialogue around sexual harassment and bullying.

We insist on the idea that sexual violence is a heinous crime against humanity which carries devastating physical and psychological consequences, and that it is the role of the State to guarantee victims access to justice and emotional recovery. In addition, we want to remind you of the importance of eradicating silence and stigma towards women and girls who dare to speak out about the abuse they have gone through. “It is time to have each of us count. It is not only adult women who are mistreated. We have to work for the present in order for future generations of girls to have a better future” – Woman leader from Riosucio, Chocó. Participant of the National Meeting on Girls and Adolescents held in Bogotá on May 2nd,3rd ,4th 2018 and organized by WILPF Colombia and UNICEF Colombia.

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