In the framework of International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, a day of peaceful protests was held, “Not Forgiven, Nor Forgotten”, at the center of the Oaxacan capital Oaxacan. During this day, symbolic activities were carried out to denounce and remember cases of feminist violence that, during the current six-year term of office, has cost the lives of more than 500 women and girls; and to demand that the authorities act for its eradication.
From November 23rd at 9:00 p.m. and until November 25th at the same time, 34 candles that made a total of 574 were lit, that is, the number of femicide cases registered in the state of Oaxaca so far in this government. Thus, at the start of this day the first candles of the altar in memory of the murdered women were lit, naming each of them in turn. Some families came to the place to put photos on the altar and light a candle.
During the second day a round table discussion was held, Accompaniment of Victims, Another Form of Anti-patriarchal Resistance, where the Legal Collective for Dissident Dignity (COJUDI) spoke of revictimization and stigma towards people who have suffered gender crimes as a mechanism adopted by Authorities not to implement due processes for their attention. In that sense, Lizbeth Diaz, a psychologist who accompanies the collective stressed that “they are not victims but people worthy of justice” and invited those who give legal accompaniment to “strengthen them [women] for a complaint process.”
On November 25th at around midday, the last candles of the altar were lit and the pronouncement where collectives and feminist organizations reported the state government for “their inaction against gender violence and the inefficiency of the gender alert issued in 40 municipalities but implemented through simulation.” “We have gone out to the public space, the streets to continue making history, history marked by thousands of feminicides, sexual violence and disappearances of sisters”, they said. In terms of the current government, there is a record of 1,484 missing women, of which there is no progress in the investigations or an efficient search mechanism “that stops hiding criminals.”
Then, the anti-monument against femicide and femicidal violence in Oaxaca was unveiled, as a way to highlight that in Oaxaca “they are killing us.” With slogans such as “not one more murder”, activists demanded that the authorities “do not harm or undermine the symbol of expression of repudiation of feminist violence and feminicide in Oaxaca.”
Other activities included a music and poetry recital, a weaving workshop, an informative fair and a food ceremony, in addition to the installation of a feminist camp.
Also in the isthmus of Tehuantepec, the march of silence was carried out to demand the eradication of violence against women. The march took place in the main blocks of the city where the participants encouraged and supported the commemoration of this date.
For more information in Spanish:
Con indignación y Antimonumenta contra feminicidios, mujeres de Oaxaca exigen freno a la violencia (El Universal Oaxaca, 25 de noviembre de 2021)
Pronunciamiento colectivo en el marco del 25 de noviembre (Página 3, 25 de noviembre de 2021)
Protestan con antimonumenta contra feminicidios en Oaxaca (El Diario de Coahuila, 25 de noviembre de 2021)
Conversatorio de acompañamiento a víctimas de violencia (Colectiva Chicatanas, 24 de noviembre de 2021)
For more information from SIPAZ:
Chiapas: XIII Assembly of Movement in Defense of Land, Territory and for the Participation and Recognition of Women in Decision-Making (November 22, 2021)
Oaxaca: Pink Alert for Disappearance of Environmentalist Irma Galindo Barrios (November 12, 2021)
Chiapas: Femicidal Violence – Police Officers Held after Murder of Two Haitian Women (October 31, 2021)
National/International: Calls to Guarantee Right to Protest on November 25th(November 24, 2020)
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