International

Feminicidal violence persists in Latin America: More awareness, more cries, but few answers

Photo: AP

November 29 |

Despite advances in social awareness, legislation and statistics, feminicidal violence continues to plague the Latin American region, according to the latest report of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). In 26 countries and territories, a woman is murdered for gender-related reasons every two hours, revealing a stark reality that seems to refuse to let up.

Figures provided by the States indicate that in 2022 there were 4,050 victims of femicides in Latin America. However, feminist collectives argue that the magnitude of this tragedy exceeds what the official data show, underscoring the need to address the problem in a more comprehensive and effective manner.

The ECLAC report stresses that these femicides are “the extreme expression of inequality, discrimination and multiple forms of violence against women and girls”. Faced with this bleak picture, voices of protest were raised in various demonstrations that took place on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, last Saturday.

From the beaches of Rio de Janeiro to Mexico City, women raised their voices demanding a stop to violence. In the Mexican capital, the Zócalo became a symbolic “cemetery”, with pink cardboards representing tombstones, remembering the victims of femicide and crying out for justice in a silent but forceful manner.

20260224_estafa_mh_728x90

Another significant event took place at the central campus of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, where violet silhouettes of women were painted with messages and photographs in memory of the absent women, in anticipation of the marches planned for that day.

ECLAC warns about the prevalence of gender-based violence in the region, noting that around two thirds of women are victims of gender-based violence. Also, one in three women has experienced physical and/or sexual aggression by a partner or ex-partner, raising the risk of lethal violence, according to the World Health Organization.

The report highlights that the threat affects 88 million women over the age of 15 in Latin America and the Caribbean, underscoring the normalization and invisibility of violence against women over the age of 65.

Alarmingly, 4% of the victims are girls under the age of 15, with documented cases of child marriages and unions in 1 in 5 girls. More than 400 minors lost their mothers or caregivers due to femicides in 2022.

José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, Executive Secretary of ECLAC, emphasized the need for comprehensive and forceful state responses to prevent feminicidal violence, while stressing the urgency of profound transformations to guarantee violence-free lives for women and girls in the region. The report also points out the responsibility of States in private acts if they do not adopt measures to prevent and punish murders and assaults against women, as established by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women in 2010. However, the contrast is evident: only three out of 19 countries report data on reports of violence, and in seven countries there are regulations to care for and compensate the children of women victims of femicide. The gap between reality and state response persists, unleashing more cries for justice in a region struggling to put an end to gender-based violence.

20260224_estafa_mh_728x90

Related Topics:Feminicidal violence Latin America

Up Next

Latin American alert: Imminent risk of a fentanyl crisis?

Don't Miss

Venezuelan President reiterates call to vote in referendum in defense of Essequibo

20260224_estafa_mh_300x250

International

Two killed in shooting at restaurant near Frankfurt Airport

Two people were shot dead early Tuesday at a restaurant in Raunheim, near Frankfurt Airport, according to local police.

Preliminary findings indicate that an armed individual entered the establishment at around 03:45 local time (02:45 GMT) and opened fire on the victims, who died at the scene from their injuries.

The suspect fled and remains at large, while the motive behind the shooting is still unclear, German media reported. Authorities have launched a large-scale search operation.

International

U.S. counterterrorism chief resigns over opposition to war in Iran

Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, announced Tuesday that he has resigned from his post, citing his opposition to the ongoing war in Iran.

In a post on X, Kent said he could not, “in good conscience,” support the conflict, arguing that Iran did not pose an imminent threat to the United States. He also claimed that the war was driven by pressure from Israel and its lobbying influence in Washington.

In a resignation letter addressed to Donald Trump, Kent alleged that at the start of the current administration, senior Israeli officials and influential figures in U.S. media carried out a disinformation campaign that undermined the “America First” platform and fostered pro-war sentiment aimed at triggering a conflict with Iran.

Kent further stated that he could not support sending a new generation of Americans to “fight and die in a war that provides no benefit to the American people and does not justify the cost in American lives.”

Since the United States and Israel launched attacks against Iran on February 28, at least 13 U.S. service members have been killed, while 10 others have been seriously wounded and around 200 have sustained minor injuries, according to a report published by The Wall Street Journal.

20260224_estafa_mh_728x90

International

German president warns Iran war could spread and disrupt Strait of Hormuz

The president of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, warned Monday that the war involving Iran could expand and further disrupt shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. He urged a swift end to hostilities between Iran, United States and Israel.

Speaking in Panama City during a joint appearance with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, Steinmeier said available information suggests Iran has significant capacity to disrupt maritime traffic through the key oil route.

“Iran has considerable potential to interfere with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz,” Steinmeier said through an interpreter. “We should therefore reach an end to the hostilities as soon as possible and call on all parties involved to make that happen.”

The remarks came during Steinmeier’s visit to Panama, the first by a German president to the Central American nation.

The German leader described the possibility of the conflict spreading as “very dangerous,” saying recent developments indicate that such a scenario cannot be ruled out.

20260224_estafa_mh_728x90

Over the weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump urged allied nations to help ensure safe passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran moved to block the waterway in response to U.S. strikes. However, several allies—particularly in Europe—have shown little support for the proposal.

“Some are very enthusiastic, others are not, and some are countries we have helped for many years,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “We have protected them from terrible external threats, and they’re not that enthusiastic. And the level of enthusiasm is important to me.”

Meanwhile, Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s top diplomat, said the Strait of Hormuz falls “outside NATO’s scope” and stressed that “the war involving Iran is not Europe’s war.”