WE ARE THE VOICE OF THOSE WHO ARE NO LONGER
Daniela Perdomo Tovar - 1105 JM
Violence against women is a social problem that has been stalking Colombia for many years. In our country, hundreds of women are murdered by their partners, friends or relatives daily. Even though, we know that law 1761 of 2015, typifies femicide as an autonomous crime in order to guarantee our well-being, the killings against our gender do not cease.
Additionally, Colombian authorities do not take any action on the matter. As it is known, our country perpetuates the traditional cultural system known as "patriarchalism" which undervalues women and labels them as sexual objects "she is mine and nobody else's". To eradicate patriarchal believe it is required an education that promotes gender equality, valuing and respecting both genders alike. Hence, it is our duty as women to fight for our rights, we must be the voice of those who were once silenced by a macho society. Women are being tortured, raped, beaten, and killed and the law is not punishing.
According to El Tiempo (2020), at least 2,657 women in the last 10 years have reported domestic violence to the authorities and have subsequently been murdered by their partners. Due to the lack of guarantees and actions to protect their lives this has not stopped. Such was the case of Lorena Viviana Garcia, a 24-year-old woman who was murdered by her husband in 2018.
Some other cases include:
- "I was nineteen years old, and I endured all kinds of physical, sexual and psychological abuse from my partner for three days. I remained in intensive care for fifteen days after suffering severe head trauma, perforations in my lungs and bruises all over my body. I died on June 14, 2020.” I am telling you this because Yudy Fernandez can no longer.
- "Year 2020, I was four years old and I was playing with my friends on the street. Seconds later a man close to my family took me to the forest and sexually abused me while beating my fragile body. I am telling you this, because Salomé Vega can no longer".
An abuser does not care about ages. Salome was an innocent girl, without any knowledge of evil or the meaning of sexual intimacy but her life was taken away.
This year more than a hundred women have been assassinated, therefore, it is our moral duty to promote education based on respect and equality starting at home, diminishing and eradicating the desire to gain and maintain power and control over an intimate partner.
Remember, we are all Yudy, Salomé, Lorena, Yuliana Samboni, Magui, Luz Esmilda, Sharic Buitrago and so many others that have passed away. It is our job to seized aggressors, the coming victim may be you or me.
Our biggest dream is…
Alejandra Montenegro Castro
1106 JM
Coronavirus: our new reality.
Alexandra Garcia Ochoa
1106 JM
The Coronavirus pandemic has changed our way of living a lot, since we have to stay at home, keeping physical distancing and avoiding close contact even with our loved ones.
Unfortunately, a lot of people have not understood the relevance of this simple action that saves lives and some others cannot afford to be at home, due to they are carrying out their jobs from an unsafe place: they are essential workers like those in retail or healthcare, who are forced to risk their lives and their families for a living. The economic and socio cultural situation force people to look for daily incomes to survive.
However, staying indoors for months is driving people crazy, the stress students are facing due to the excessive amount of homework is something hard to cope with, though it's better than being at school with the huge possibility of catching the deadly virus.
The isolation to me represents a barbarity, and in spite of everyone knows that the steps taken somehow guarantee our wellbeing, they have left us in an economic and mental health crisis. I reckon our mental condition has been affected, we are neither sleeping well nor having healthy eating habits. Furthermore, we are constantly thinking about how the quarantine will affect us in a near future.
Our life has changed forever and we must face it positively. We cannot just sit while our mind is playing tricks on us. So, I'm inviting you to get closer to your families, avoid arguing for little things, start playing board games and just have fun. We don't know if this is the last chance we have to see our loved ones.
Many women dream about having a big house, traveling around the world, finding the right person, but others dream about trusting others again. Having the certitude that they are safe outside and at home, assuring that nothing bad will happen to them that they won't be harassed, sexually abused or in the worst case beaten up, raped, or killed.
How many of you Liceista women have not dreamed of feeling safe when crossing the door and have desired to be seen in a respectful manner? Is it a dream to avoid feeling uncomfortable or unsecured in a male dominated environment? I believe that every single woman, at least once in her lifetime has conceived the idea of being respected and appreciated by men.
But how can we tackle sexual harassment in a macho society?
The most common and disrespectful answer is avoid wearing clothes that reveal your skin, and incite men. Unfortunately when looking for a guilty, the sex predator becomes the victim.
In my own personal opinion, one feasible solution includes having empathy. People ignore others pain and suffering, criticizing and making unaware judgements. It is a need to walk on the other persons' shoes and to raise awareness about womens' feelings.
What about if we put ourselves in the positIon of a girl or young lady that was raped because of wearing a tight tank top or a miniskirt? And how about the woman that was sexually abused and doesn't feel safe anywhere because of the constant fear that appears anytime and anywhere?
It is urged to insert sexual education in the school curriculum and promote gender equality, at home and school the process can start, ensuring a better health, welfare and development for every woman in the whole world.