What does "Yo me sumo" mean?

“I’m in, what about you?” is a campaign created by Casa de la Mujer to raise awareness among women and men that overcoming violence is a collective responsibility, which begins with changes in attitudes and behaviors in daily life.

The idea of ​​"joining in" is also a call to activism, to be agents of change who promote—whether from their families, schools, universities, or workplaces—equal rights for women and men and the overcoming of gender roles. Ultimately, a cultural transformation is needed, one to which we all contribute.

Gender-based violence will not end until the perception that women's bodies are the property of men and require their approval, as in the case of catcalling, is changed; or until the idea that women were born to be mothers and that motherhood is an obligation, not a choice, is dispelled. The situation will not change without moral questioning from society and without criminal penalties for those who commit acts of violence against women, whether physical, sexual, psychological, or symbolic.

The campaign aims to expand to various topics related to the prevention of gender-based violence. For the first stage, which began with its launch on March 8, 2018, four specific thematic areas were addressed:

Patriarchal violence: knowledge of Law 348 and motivation to report.

Sexual violence: street harassment, catcalling.

Sexual and Reproductive Rights: use of the morning-after pill.

Teenage pregnancy: the right to decide about motherhood.

This first stage was financed by Cuso International and included the design of graphic pieces related to these topics, which were shared through our social networks, Casa de la Mujer Bolivia.

In addition, four radio programs related to these topics were produced and broadcast by our station, Radio Alternativa 103.0 FM, with coverage in the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia.

A campaign that champions change

For Miriam Suárez, director of Casa de la Mujer, one of the purposes of the campaign is to highlight the multiple violations of women's human rights, violations that are part of a continuous cycle of violence, thus revealing the different expressions of patriarchal culture.

The four thematic axes of the campaign were taken from the communication strategy, developed in 2017 by Casa de la Mujer for the project “Overcoming sexual violence against girls, boys and adolescents”, supported by Plan International.

The investigation identified the following problems in its diagnosis:

Ignorance of Law 348, Comprehensive Law to guarantee Women a Life Free of Violence.

High number of victims of sexual violence.

High number of unwanted pregnancies.

Lack of awareness of Sexual and Reproductive Rights.

Little interest in the subject from parents and teachers, in addition to the lack of information.

Little interest from the media in properly publicizing the problem.

Context of the problem

Violence against women, girls, and adolescents in Bolivia and around the world constitutes the most widespread, tolerated, and normalized violation of human rights. It is also considered a public health and social justice problem that affects thousands of people daily, impacting their integrity and human dignity.

In Bolivia, from March 9, 2013 – when Law 348 began to operate – until March 6, 2018, 129,130 ​​cases of family or domestic violence and a total of 455 femicides have been officially registered.

The numbers haven't decreased despite the efforts of various institutions and the progress made with the Law. That's why the "I'm joining in" campaign aims to make everyone feel they have a responsibility to overcome gender violence, a responsibility they can fulfill through their daily actions.

The purpose is for men and women to recognize gender violence that manifests itself in daily life and to question how they react to these situations and what role they play in the cultural transformation towards a more just and equal life in which the right to live free from violence is respected.

When did the campaign begin?

The campaign was launched on March 8, 2018, International Women's Day, taking advantage of the emblematic date to reclaim it as a time of commemoration in which the struggles of many predecessors who won women's rights are remembered.