International
Feminicidal violence persists in Latin America: More awareness, more cries, but few answers
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.
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.
International
U.S. Senate Rejects Budget, Bringing Government Closer to Shutdown Amid DHS Dispute
The U.S. Senate voted on Thursday against a budget proposal in a move aimed at pressuring changes at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), following the killing of two civilians during a deployment of immigration agents in Minneapolis.
All Senate Democrats and seven Republican lawmakers voted against the bill, which requires 60 votes to advance, pushing the country closer to a partial government shutdown that would cut funding for several agencies, including the Pentagon and the Department of Health.
The rejection came as Senate leaders and the White House continue negotiations on a separate funding package for DHS that would allow reforms to the agency. Proposed measures include banning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from wearing face coverings and requiring them to use body-worn cameras during operations.
The vote took place just hours after President Donald Trump said he was “close” to reaching an agreement with Democrats and did not believe the federal government would face another shutdown, following last year’s record stoppage.
“I don’t think the Democrats want a shutdown either, so we’ll work in a bipartisan way to avoid it. Hopefully, there will be no government shutdown. We’re working on that right now,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House.
International
Trump Says Putin Agreed to One-Week Halt in Attacks on Ukraine Amid Extreme Cold
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he secured a commitment from Russian President Vladimir Putinto halt attacks against Ukraine for one week, citing extreme weather conditions affecting the region.
“Because of the extreme cold (…) I personally asked Putin not to attack Kyiv or other cities and towns for a week. And he agreed. He was very pleasant,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting broadcast by the White House.
Trump acknowledged that several advisers had questioned the decision to make the call.
“A lot of people told me not to waste the call because they wouldn’t agree. And he accepted. And we’re very happy they did, because they don’t need missiles hitting their towns and cities,” the president said.
According to Trump, Ukrainian authorities reacted with surprise to the announcement but welcomed the possibility of a temporary ceasefire.
“It’s extraordinarily cold, record cold (…) They say they’ve never experienced cold like this,” he added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later commented on the announcement, expressing hope that the agreement would be honored.
International
Storm Kristin Kills Five in Portugal, Leaves Nearly 500,000 Without Power
Storm Kristin, which battered Portugal with heavy rain and strong winds early Wednesday, has left at least five people dead, while nearly half a million residents remained without electricity as of Thursday, according to updated figures from authorities.
The revised death toll was confirmed to AFP by a spokesperson for the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANPEC). On Wednesday, the agency had reported four fatalities.
Meanwhile, E-Redes, the country’s electricity distribution network operator, said that around 450,000 customers were still without power, particularly in central Portugal.
Emergency services responded to approximately 1,500 incidents between midnight and 8:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday, as the storm caused widespread disruptions.
The Portuguese government described Kristin as an “extreme weather event” that inflicted significant damage across several regions of the country. At the height of the storm, as many as 850,000 households and institutions lost electricity during the early hours of Wednesday.
Several municipalities ordered the closure of schools, many of which remained shut on Thursday due to ongoing adverse conditions.
Ricardo Costa, regional deputy commander of the Leiria Fire Brigade, said residents continue to seek assistance as rainfall persists.
“Even though the rain is not extremely intense, it is causing extensive damage to homes,” he noted.
In Figueira da Foz, a coastal city in central Portugal, strong winds toppled a giant Ferris wheel, underscoring the severity of the storm.
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