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December 8, 2006
Protest against sexual violence
Marchers take to the streets of La Paz, Bolivia, to rally for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (Nov. 25).
Photo courtesy of Juan Luis Alanes.

In Bolivia, sexual violence is an open secret. It’s estimated that four of 10 women have suffered some form of sexual violence — including rape or incest — from a partner, peer, family member or unknown assailant.

But for every 100 Bolivian women who report sexual violence, only two try their cases in court. Many more are silenced by fear of stigma, their attackers or even the authorities.

Eliana Del Pozo, Ipas Bolivia Director, said: “Bolivia is one of the countries where there’s a high rate of sexual violence. Sexual violence is a crime, but it’s not reported and it occurs with impunity. It is frequently hidden under the category of domestic violence, and the aggressors are family members or people close to the family.”

Recognizing the prevalence of sexual violence in the Andean nation, Ipas Bolivia and partner Marie Stopes Bolivia are trying to reduce the silence surrounding sexual violence. Together, they have a launched a public awareness campaign that informs women and adolescents of their rights and where they can turn to for help.

The campaign is tied to ongoing Ipas Bolivia and Marie Stopes Bolivia work to help sexual violence survivors but recently stepped up activities as part of the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence. The observance that begins each Nov. 25 and concludes on international Human Rights Day, Dec. 10.

The initiative has sponsored anti-violence marches across the country (including a Nov. 24 one in La Paz, which drew more than 600 women); given presentations on youth violence and the government’s duty to fight sexual violence as part of its commitment to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; and organized fairs to publicize the work of public or nonprofit agencies that help the abused.

As part of the campaign’s communications plan, Ipas Bolivia and Marie Stopes Bolivia have developed TV commercials, brochures and posters, radio spots and soap operas about the topic. The materials are targeted to towns and cities where an assessment indicated high rates of such violence and a need for change: Caranavi, Cobija, Padilla, Quillacollo, Riberalta and Warnes.

One of the campaign’s tools is a pop song (listen here) that speaks to both women and men about sexual violence. Written by Bolivian poet Julio Cesar Paredes and arranged by traditional music master Donato Espinoza, it addresses men by saying in Spanish, “Express love in your relationships/Never force [your partner]/Break the cycle.”

The song also tells women: “You will come out of your tragedy/With your head held high/Tomorrow awaits you with new strength/And on your face, shame doesn’t exist.”

Bolivian pop music stars Mimi and Omar Baldivieso repeat the chorus that sexual violence touches everyone: “Sexual violence affects us all/It’s a moral problem/Of health and of justice/They are human rights/That are being trampled/And a social problem/That surrounds all us.”

The campaign’s print materials reinforce the message that sexual crimes are common, but that there are places to go for help. One brochure shows a young, fashionably dressed woman arguing with a clean-cut man  — and friends nearby. Her hands are up, warding off an unwelcome advance from this male acquaintance. Its headline reads “¡Qué parte del NO, no entiendes!” (“What part of ‘No!’ don’t you understand?”) Inside, it defines sexual violence and provides victims a short list of laws and institutions that are supposed to protect them.

Empowering women and educating the public are goals of the project, but the campaign also strives to educate those social-service workers likely to come in contact with sexual violence victims. Another brochure outlines the responsibilities of such professionals to understand their obligations to help survivors: becoming informed about national norms for the care of the affected; establishing networks with other institutions to respond to sexual violence; and contributing to a general environment in which people touched by violence can exercise their rights.

In addition to this communications campaign, Ipas Bolivia has worked with government and NGO partners to design a system for collecting data about sexual violence; advocated for comprehensive physical, psychological and legal care for survivors; and earlier this year, developed an evidence-collection kit that helps law enforcement maintain evidence in cases of sexual assault.

For more information, contact:
Kirsten Sherk
Senior Associate, Media Relations
e-mail: sherkk@ipas.org
phone: 919.960.5612
fax: 919.929.0258