Vibrant March and Cultural Festival Denouncing Violence Against Women, Adolescents, and Children

Matagalpa, Nicaragua – On November 20, the Saturday preceding the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25th, numerous civil society organizations including El Colectivo de Mujeres de Matagalpa (The Women’s Collective of Matagalpa), and El Grupo Venancia, both long-standing, highly respected feminist organizations in Matagalpa convened in a colorful, lively, vibrant show of solidarity against violence inflicted on women, adolescents and children. This annual march and cultural festival are becoming increasingly well-known across Nicaragua and draw people from across the country to participate in the march and festivities denouncing violence against women, adolescents and children.

In December 1999, the General Assembly of the United Nations designated November 25th as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in order to raise awareness and commemorate the brutal assassination in 1961 of the three Mirabal sisters, political activists in the Dominican Republic, on orders of Dominican ruler Rafael Trujillo (1930-1961.  (www.un.org/depts/dhl/violence/). Known as the “Unforgettable Butterflies,” the Mirabal sisters have come to symbolize the crisis of violence against women in Latin America (www.unifem.org/campaigns/november25/).

What did your community do to commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women? If you weren’t able to prepare an event in time, what can you do next year? For some community organizing ideas, go to www.amnestyusa.org/activism/.