- The meeting allows to make visible the situation of girls, adolescents and young women in Latin America and the Caribbean.
- "Because we are a girl, because we are a woman in Colombia we are the main victims of violence, since 2015 more than 100,000 cases of sexual violence have been registered by the National Institute of Legal Medicine", Angélica Cuenca Gómez, Executive Secretary of the Alliance for Colombian Children.
For the second day in a row, the Initiative Weaving Childhood Networks for Latin America and the Caribbean made the IV Latin American Thought Seminar on the rights of girls and adolescents #NiñasPoderosas by the Alliance for Colombian Children, in a hybrid format, given the conditions of the current health contingency, through the different platforms of Ollin.Tv.
"Because we are a girl, because we are a woman, we are the main victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, discrimination, stigmatizations that hinder our integral and harmonious development and become obstacles to leading a life free of violence", was the opening message from Angélica Cuenca Gómez, Executive Secretary of the Alliance for Colombian Children.
Jhoana Patiño, researcher at the International Center for Education and Human Development (CINDE) presented the topic "Women: scientists, writers and creators." Compartió cifras sobre lo que representa nacer y hacerse mujer en una sociedad patriarcal, las mujeres representan el 52% de la población mundial, aportan el 66% del trabajo mundial y generan el 50% de los alimentos en el mundo, sobre las mujeres en el campo de las ciencias, destacó que el 66 %de las publicaciones científicas en el mundo son hechas por hombres y solo el 38% por mujeres, de las 1560 personas que han recibido el Premio Nobel de la Paz, solo 54 son mujeres; por cada 10 astronautas, solo 1 es mujer.
"In the midst of politics and religion, who am I?" was the topic addressed by 19-year-old Yasmira, a law student, representative of girls and adolescents in Colombia. “They keep killing young people to fight for our rights”, This is how he began his speech to make a call to the international community in the face of the situation of violence that his country is going through. “Who am I? I am Yasmi, a feminist, I am what you see, what I think, I am the construction of my dreams and goals, I am the one you despise for having radical thoughts, because I feel that the world is violating the minimum guarantees for living with dignity I am the one who grew up as a rose with thorns questioning herself, at the age of 7 I did not know about sexist stereotypes that end up affecting the lives of people around the world ”, part of Yasmira's message.
Nadia Rivera, advisor at Save the Children presented the issue "Alternatives to activate our powers #UnidasYDecididas", invited to reflect on the characteristics that have been given to men and women in society, constructions and roles of what it is to be male and what it is to be a woman, "The masculine we have focused on the physical and labor force, in making important decisions for society, the feminine we have formed in the domestic or home environment where women are the emotional ones, therefore we cannot make decisions important because our emotionality is present ”, raised.
“In this society there are stereotypes that limit the life of women; In my community before, girls were sold by their parents to older men, raped, abused and sometimes killed. Women are made to clean, wash, be housewives and procreate, be good women. Fortunately, the women of us have stepped on strong and we have left their mark, there are projects that support the projects of girls, today women, we fight for an equal society ", was part of the message of Karlis, representative of girls, adolescents and young people, in the development of the theme “Children and adolescents overcoming stereotypes”.
For her part, Pauline Ochoa Gender Manager of World Vision Colombia, a global organization for development and humanitarian aid, presented the topic "Education in emergencies: an opportunity to overcome gender imaginary". He emphasized the importance of working for education, in emergency situations so as not to leave any girl behind. Among the data that the specialist shared are the following: The pandemic triggered adolescent pregnancy in Latin America, the second highest rate on the planet; COVID-19 caused the largest increase in child marriages in 25 years; girls were already doing more housework and care work before the pandemic, during the pandemic and confinement has increased gender violence against girls and adolescents.
Another topic developed during the second day of the #NiñasPoderosas Seminar was "The revolution of the everyday" by Marcela Henao, National Gender Advisor of Fundación Plan, who recognized that decades of feminist mobilization have sown so that the rights of girls and adolescents are a reality, the revolution of everyday life implies that men feel that parenting is also for them, in addition to eradicating comments about the body or appearance of others, he pointed out.
With an emotional performance, Angie Paola, spokesperson and advocate for youth and feminist gave way to the issue "PAZcíficas women changing history". He emphasized the difficulties and stereotypes regarding women and girls of ethnic origin. For her, being a black woman represents love, strength, courage, resistance, resilience, unity, struggle, sisterhood and brotherhood.
Matilda González, lawyer and activist, spoke about "Break the silence and toxic loyalties to be free and happy" Who said loyalties must have healthy limits "Sexual abuse is not denounced due to family loyalties, we are facing an accomplice panorama that silences families and institutions", assured.
Suri, 14, who is a National Delegate of Peace Managers and represents girls and adolescents, on the subject "The body has shapes" He said that current women and girls face multiple stereotypes, some of them associated with their image. I mention that there are even girls between the ages of 10 and 15 who are concerned about their weight, height and figure, affecting their self-esteem, sometimes with serious consequences such as eating disorders, all this as a result of pressure and demands from society. He asked that the words fat or skinny stop being used as insults.
See more photographic material of this edition by Colombia:
The third and last day of the IV Latin American Seminar #NiñasPoderosas will be in charge of the Network for Children's Rights in Mexico, which can be followed live through the Ollin.Tv platforms (facebook.com/ollin.tv and youtube .com / ollintv) with the following times: 10:00 SV, GT / 11:00 MX, CO, EC / 12:00 BO, PY / 13:00 CL, ARG, UY / 18:00 ES.
Watch the full broadcast of this show here:
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Ollin.TV is an Internet television channel created as part of Weaving Childhood Nets in Latin America and the Caribbean an initiative co-financed by the European Union, which seeks to contribute to the strengthening and consolidation of a platform for the defense of children and adolescents in 20 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.
The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of Children's Rights Mexico AC / Weaving Childhood Networks and in no case should it consider that it reflects the views of the European Union.
Press contact: Alejandra Gallardo / [email protected]