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(CNN Spanish) -
In recent days, social networks have become a space that many consider to be the Venezuelan #MeToo, which arises under the slogan # YoSíTeCreo.
A movement marked by pain and indignation that makes visible allegations of sexual abuse and harassment in a country where the macho culture prevails and where there are strong criticisms and questions about access to the justice system, especially in this type of cases.
These are mostly supposed traumatic experiences, in many cases with celebrities, that some victims believed that no one would believe or listen to.
Wounds, they say, did not finish healing until a message broke the cellophane and different voices began to rise and show that silence is no longer an option, in a country that they describe as an accomplice because they assure that what happens is a secret voices.
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Musicians, writers, comedians, artists, politicians and journalists have been accused in some cases from anonymity and in others by women who identify themselves and take a step forward to denounce cases ranging from sexual harassment and abuse to rape. , including rape.
The latter is defined as sex with people over 12 and under 17 years of age which, according to article 379 of the Venezuelan penal code, is classified as rape.
Willy McKey admits to rape and commits suicide
One of the most notorious is that of the writer, poet and political communicator Willy McKey, who was accused from a Twitter account, under the pseudonym Pía, of having seduced, manipulated and abused her when she was 16 years old and 35. McKey, a 40-year-old intellectual and resident of Buenos Aires, admitted the responsibility of having committed rape amid strong criticism.
Consequently, several platforms where he worked announced the end of their employment relationship with the intellectual.
For his part, the attorney general of Venezuela, Tarek William Saab, announced on April 28 that in the face of public and serious complaints he would initiate a criminal investigation against McKey and other indicated in the musical and cultural field.
At the same time, he called on women to present their complaints formally to the Public Ministry.
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A day later, on April 29, the Police of the City of Buenos Aires reported in an official report the discovery of McKey's body in the Recoleta neighborhood, where he had committed suicide.
Sources close to the writer revealed that he was at a friend's residence.
Shortly before he had published a tweet with the message: “Don't be this.
It grows inside and kills you.
Forgiveness".
In the midst of the torrent of complaints, some of those named have admitted responsibility, others offered apologies in case of having had any behavior that was offensive to the victims, without specifying specific actions, and others have discarded the accusations against them.
César Batiz, from El Pitazo, asks to be prosecuted respecting due process and without political discrimination
The director of the web portal El Pitazo, César Batiz, went to the Venezuelan Attorney General's Office on Monday and Tuesday along with his lawyers after being accused of sexual harassment.
The complaint, disseminated through an anonymous Twitter account, indicated that it was a "massive harassment" against women who still work in that digital news site and that, as described, they do not dare to report because they are household holders. .
The accusation did not include an account of the events, or specific indications.
Batiz claims to be innocent and affirms that "there is the right of the victim to report and of the perpetrator to defend himself."
He assures that he went to the Public Ministry to "ratify the request that the aforementioned facts ... be investigated respecting the rule of law" and "without discrimination."
The journalist asked that what the complainants say be investigated without prejudice towards them, but above all, that due process be followed "at all times, in all cases."
"May they all be heard, may they all be evaluated," said the social communicator.
However, he warned that on different occasions he received information about actions that they wanted to take against him for the work he does as a journalist.
He reported that he had previously been involved in actions that do not correspond to professional and ethical practice.
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He said that for a long time they have asked him why he is in the country doing the work he does, and that he always replied that they had not found where to attack him. He assured that this is one way to do it and affirmed that he is sure that he will come out of what he cataloged as an attack.
He stressed that, from El Pitazo, where he remains at the forefront, respect for human rights, social networks, freedom of expression, freedom of information and of the press are promoted, the same for everyone.
He assured that that is why it seems very strange to him that “in this case an anonymous tweet is used to open an investigation, while, in the media, through social networks or their portals, they have presented investigation reports and complaints. without there being a pronouncement similar to the one that is now made from one or more tweets that do not have any specific indication ".
Sexual abuse Sexual harassment