No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeGender violencePHOTOS: Thousands march to speak out against violence targeting women (and men)

PHOTOS: Thousands march to speak out against violence targeting women (and men)

Thousands of people participated Tuesday morning in a San José march to mark the U.N.’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Among the participants were young women protesting for the decriminalization of abortion, and men speaking out against rights abuses in cases involving false allegations of domestic violence.

Demonstrators carried signs proclaiming, “Si te agrede no te quiere,” (“If he attacks you, he doesn’t love you”) and our personal favorite, “No soy su reina, cabrón” (“I’m not your queen, asshole”).

The march, which left La Merced Park in the morning and ended at the Legislative Assembly, was organized by Costa Rica’s National Institute for Women (INAMU) and included students, public- and private-sector workers, members of teachers’ unions, indigenous groups and even police officers.

President Luis Guillermo Solís attended with First Lady Mercedes Peñas, along with Women’s Affairs Minister and INAMU Director Alejandra Mora, Broad Front Party presidential candidate and former lawmaker José María Villalta, Citizen Action Party lawmaker Ottón Solís, Vice President Ana Helena Chacón and Ombudswoman Monserrat Solano, who said that change begins with education in the home.

A taxi driver named Franco who happened upon the demonstrations by chance seemed visibly moved: “I was 22 when I found out my father beat my mother,” he said. “I grabbed him and threw him to the ground … but didn’t hit him. Eventually I forgave him, but I swore I would never raise my hand against a woman.”

Men wearing blue T-shirts also set out to draw attention to their plight in Costa Rica. They carried signs declaring, “INAMU destroys families and promotes inequality,” and “No to false domestic abuse claims.”

Trending Now

Costa Rica Celebrates 201st Annexation Anniversary With New Nicoya Park

Nearly 200 people joined the Municipality of Nicoya this Sunday to inaugurate a new park at the Annexation Monument, an initiative that blends recreation,...

Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s Drowning in Costa Rica Ruled Accidental

The death of American actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner has been confirmed as accidental drowning, according to Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ). Warner, 54, was...

Low Dollar Exchange Rate Threatens Costa Rican Industry

Ten of Costa Rica’s leading business chambers have sent a joint letter to the Central Bank calling for an immediate adjustment to the country's...

Cosby Show Star Malcolm-Jamal Warner Dies in Costa Rica Drowning Accident

Malcolm-Jamal Warner passed away at 54 from an accidental drowning. He gained fame as Theo Huxtable on "The Cosby Show," playing the son in...

Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly Vacation in Costa Rica with Baby

Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly touched down in Costa Rica for a family getaway with their three-month-old daughter, Saga Blade Fox-Baker. Photographers caught...

Costa Rica Food Culture: From Bar Bocas to Fast Food Chains

Once upon a time in Costa Rica, you could walk into a bar, order a beer, and receive a free boca – a small...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica