Solidaridad Women’s Institute Leads Charge Against Gender Violence

Municipal President Estefanía Mercado recently launched the board of directors for the Solidaridad Women's Institute. During the event, she called on the community to unite and build strong alliances. The goal is to devise a collective strategy to end violence against women. Mercado emphasized that her administration is fully committed to eliminating gender violence, and will not hesitate to invest time, money, and effort to achieve this.

During the inaugural session, Bárbara Aylin Delgado Uc, the head of the Solidaridad Women's Institute, highlighted the importance of instilling positive attitudes and behavior in children and teenagers. She believes that promoting respect for women's rights from a young age is key to eradicating the root causes of violence. Like Mercado, she also urged the community to come together and form strong alliances to end violence against women.

Previously, while commemorating the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, Mercado stated that empowerment is one of the most effective tools against violence. She explained that in Solidaridad, they are working to empower women by providing opportunities for participation, leadership, and autonomy. The Solidaridad government has even provided resources to help women establish their own businesses, thereby breaking the cycle of economic violence that perpetuates the idea that women cannot be financially independent.

Addressing a crowd of about 200 women at a local event, Mercado, alongside honorary president Eduardo Asencio, announced that they are strengthening support and protection services for victims of physical violence. In addition to these empowerment initiatives, women also have the support of the Specialized Group for Family and Gender Violence (Geavig). This group works in collaboration with Purple Points, a service that provides immediate assistance, guidance, and emotional support to women in need.

Eduardo Asencio, the honorary president of the Solidaridad DIF, acknowledged that the fight against violence should not be a women's issue alone. He stressed that everyone, especially men, has a role to play. He called on men to examine their attitudes, challenge behaviors that perpetuate inequality, and become agents of change in their families, communities, and workplaces.