A demonstration on September 28 demands that the governor of Puerto Rico declare a state of emergency for cases of violence against women (Credit: Ricardo ARDUENGO / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO ARDUENGO / AFP via Getty Images)
(CNN Spanish) -
The governor of Puerto Rico, Wanda Vázquez, signed a decree this Monday that establishes a series of protocols to combat violence against women.
The decree declares "a priority service to attend to cases of violence against women, and orders the creation of prevention and education campaigns for the community on access to services for women," according to information shared by the authorities.
Likewise, "it imposes this same obligation on the departments of Family, Justice and Education."
Today I issued a state of national alert to address the manifestations of violence against girls, adolescents, adult women and older adults, which implies the integration of all public and private entities, government organizations and the third sector.
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- Wanda Vázquez Garced (@wandavazquezg) September 4, 2019
The decree also establishes that the Department of Education must extend the protocol to the entire school system for the next school year, which begins in August 2021. The regulations even provide that all its personnel must be “trained in equity, human rights and civilians by December 2020 ”.
"The different emergencies that our people have faced in recent months have become the priority for attending to the needs of women," said Governor Vázquez.
According to the Puerto Rico Police Bureau, as of October 25, 38 women were murdered this year, including two minors.
The number of murders in Puerto Rico so far this year is 426.
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The decree is accompanied by a "Protocol of Action to Combat Violence Against Women in Puerto Rico", which includes a series of strategies and objectives that will be directed by a Multisectoral Commission against Violence against Women.
The main security, physical and mental health, family and education agencies will make up this body, in addition to the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics and the Association and Federation of Mayors.
The decree also orders the Department of Justice and the Puerto Rico Police Bureau to work on the creation of an "investigation protocol in cases of violent death of women based on gender."
This as part of the implementation of Law 83 of 2020 that orders "the creation of a Unit for Crimes Against Women and Domestic Violence in the Police Bureau," according to the executive order.
In September 2019, Governor Vázquez issued a state of national alert to address the manifestations of violence against girls, adolescents, adult women and older women.
According to the statement, the decree and protocol were prepared and evaluated by the Office of the First Lady.
Among the organizations that participated in the preparation of these measures are: Fundación Alas para la Mujer;
Puerto Rico Health Justice Center;
Hostels Network;
Women for Puerto Rico;
Women Faced with Adversity;
Women Leaders of Puerto Rico;
Las Lolas Coalition and Coordinadora Paz para la Mujer, an organization that brought together the recommendations of La Colectiva Feminista en Construcción;
Broad Movement of Women, Health Workshop and the Office of the Ombudsman for Women.
Violence against women
