On Nov. 24th, we remembered the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, designated by the UN every Nov. 25^th, on a morning workshop with National Representative in Congress Paula Bertol. After discussing different topics related to violence against women and the position of women in society, we ended the workshop with a presentation and signing of an open letter by the president of BPW Buenos Aires Dr. Graciela DeOto, the president of the Legislation and Advocacy Committee BPW Buenos Aires Silke Mayra Arndt, and National Representative Paula María Bertol. The letter contains important information about the existing legislation in Argentina in relation to different forms of violence against women and important contact information for victims. The purpose is to raise awareness and spread the word about all the tools people can use in case of being a victim of gender violence or knowing about a case.

The Open Letter says as follows: 

Buenos Aires, November 24th 2011

Open Letter

On December 17^th 1999, by the Resolution 54/134, the UN designated the day Nov. 25^th as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. This day was chosen in remembrance of the murder of the three Mirabal sisters, political activists in Republica Dominicana, by order of Governor Trujillo.

21 years later, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women was adopted. Was it necessary that 3 women were murdered in order to act for protection of women?

Today, we have a set of international and national set of rules, as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, incorporated in the National Constitution from Argentina in Article 75, par. 22, Law N° 26.485 for Integral Protection to prevent, punishment and eradicate violence against women on every place they develop their interpersonal relations, that guaranties the rights that are recognized in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,  the Interamerican Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence Against Women, Law N°26.061 for Integral protection of right for girls, boys and teenagers, Law N°24.417 for Protection against Domestic Violence.

However, 70% of women in the world experience some kind of violence in their life. Each year 800.00 persons in the world are victims of human trafficking, this includes prostitution, slavery, as servants or to work, 80% of these victims are women and girls. At work, women have difficulties gaining positions of power. In Argentina there is a 28,5% salary gap between men and women. Women earn 28,5% less than men for an equal job. In politics, the gender quotas are yet not fulfilled in many state offices.

At BPW Buenos Aires we are working towards facilitating communication, providing a feminine voice in international and local forums, to strengthen social actions and to improving quality of life for women, by participation and stimulating actions. We believe in the power of collective action through dialogue, information, consults and team work, and we actively pursue opportunities to work with others to achieve common goals.

This is why, when we look at the situation of women in society that we described previously, we ask ourselves:

How can these situations exist having such a vast legal set of rules that protect women?

We come to the conclusion, that the answer to these violent situations against women, is law enforcement.

This is why, we women, from BPW Buenos Aires, make this compromise to spread the information and to make every person, women and men, aware of the rights ant tools that exist to prevent and eliminate violence against women.

The information that follows can save a life:

The National Justice and Human Rights Ministry offers a service from a Mobile Attention Unit for Victims of Domestic Violence. You can call them on the number 137 to act at the same moment the violence is taking place.

The Mobile Intervention Unit for Urgencies with sexually abused Victims can be reached at: 4958-4291/4981-6882/4958-3982.

The Rescue and Accompaniment for victims of Human Trafficking can be called at: 5300-4014.

In the City of Buenos Aires, the Women Dependency has a free line for women that are victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse: 0800-666-8537.

With kind regards,

Dr. Graciela B. De Oto

President BPW Buenos Aires

Argentina

Paula María Bertol, Lawyer

National Representative at Congress

Argentina

Silke Mayra Arndt, Lawyer

President of Legislation and Advocacy Committee

BPW Buenos Aires - Argentina