Hearing Rebeca’s story has encouraged others to come forward and break the silence. We launched a webseries on November 25, 2014 for the 16 Days of Activism to Eliminate Gender-Based Violence to offer their stories a platform, so that we could create networks of support through social media, web chats, and digital-activism that would have real impact on our day to day exchanges on the ground.
Day 1: Kate del Castillo Launches #16DaysofActivism Webseries with Justice for My Sister
Mexican human rights advocate and actress Kate del Castillo joins Rosita Ortega from Ecuador, Ana Silvia Monzon from Guatemala, and Kimberly Bautista from her tour in Costa Rica to talk about the importance of preventing gender-based violence.
Day 2: Justice for Angie #16DaysofActivism
Cecy visits an altar commemorating victims of gender-based violence in Los Angeles. Her sister Angie was fatally shot by her partner, who also shot their son in the head.
Day 3: Justice for Ivania #16DaysofActivism
Ivania fled El Salvador to escape a physically abusive husband, only to find that her next partner in Los Angeles also had emotionally abusive tendencies. After 23 years, she recounts her story of survival, healing, and eventual success as an entrepreneur. Ivania fled El Salvador to escape a physically abusive husband, only to find that her next partner in Los Angeles also had emotionally abusive tendencies. After 23 years, she recounts her story of survival, healing, and eventual success as an entrepreneur.
Day 4: Justice for Merci #16DaysofActivism
Ines' god-sister was murdered by her boyfriend in Guayaquil, Ecuador. He fled investigation and lived in hiding. When he returned, he murdered his next partner as well. He is now serving time for the second murder, but was never convicted for the first crime.
Day 5: Justice for Miriam #16DaysofActivism
Miriam left Escuintla, Guatemala because of the general violence and domestic violence. She has a new life in Santa Fe, New Mexico USA, and dreams of reuniting her family one day.
Day 6: Justice for Sniker #16DaysofActivism
Sniker is a young trans man from a coastal town in Ecuador where being transgendered is unheard of. He became part of the trans feminist movement in Quito. He says, "While they worry about getting married, we trans people--trans women and trans men--die every day." Ana Almaida comments on the need to partake in this movement as an ally.
Day 7: Justice for Sivia #16DaysofActivism
Silvia became a maid at 14 far from her home in Saquetepequez, Guatemala. Months later, she was raped by her boss and his cousin, who told her they would kill her if she told anyone. Her resilience as a young mother who continues to fight for justice is inspiring.
Day 8: Justice for Jennifer #16DaysofActivism
Julita Laude is determined to confront the killer of her transgendered daughter Jennifer. The main suspect is a U.S. Marine who met Jennifer in a night club in the Philippines.
Co-production with PinoyMedia Center
Day 9: Justice for Flor #16DaysofActivsm
Trigger warning: Flor shares the evidence that permitted her to report her aggressor and later obtain a restraining order against him.
Day 10: Justice for Toñita and the Other Marias #16DaysofActivism
Betty is an activist from Santa Barbara, Honduras, and she tells the story of Toñita, her friend who was murdered by her husband. She also comments on the case of Miss Honduras and her sister who were murdered by misogynistic violence, "there are many Marias."
Day 11: Justice for Monica #16DaysofActivism
Ana from Milagro, Ecuador recounts how her sister was murdered by their brother-in-law. Police didn't want to help her capture the aggressor until she was dead.
Day 12: Justice for Vanessa #16DaysofActivism
Rosita launches an online campaign to raise awareness and support for her cousin's case, only for her activist tactics to be copied by the killer's family.
Day 13: Justice for Karen #16DaysofActivism
Guadalupe describes her journey through the justice system after the disappearance of her daughter Karen. Each step was more complicated because the Mexican State didn't want to take her report, even though she knew who the last person was that saw Karen.
Day 14: Justice for Magda #16DaysofActivism
Magda speaks of healing from trauma she experienced as a child who survived incest, and how she is now committed to helping other women in Costa Rica.
Day 15: Justice for Sara #16DaysofActivism
Sara attempted to leave her abusive husband, but was discouraged by her church. She later found refuge in women's organizations in Honduras.
Day 16: Justice for Rosy #16DaysofActivism
Rosy sacrificed her successful business, home, and family in Honduras to avoid another beating by her husband. She faced rape and human trafficking in her journey to the United States. Her story illustrates how hard it is to break the cycle of domestic violence.
Our webseries was made possible by the support of the US Embassy in Ecuador, the US Embassy in Honduras, the Canadian Embassy in Honduras, the Canadian Embassy in Guatemala, the Canadian Embassy in El Salvador, the Canadian Embassy in Costa Rica and Latino Public Broadcasting. Stay tuned for updates and follow our YouTube channel.