August 9: Global Solidarity for Survivors of Childhood and Adolescent Sexual Violence

Learn in Spanish

On August 9, we join organizations and activists in Bolivia and around the world to commemorate the Day of Solidarity with Survivors of Sexual Abuse and Against Sexual Violence Against Children and Adolescents. This day was inspired by Brisa De Angulo, a survivor of sexual violence and advocate for her fellow survivors of childhood sexual violence, who began organizing a march through the streets of Cochabamba, Bolivia, to show survivors that they are not alone.

The initiative received significant support and led to the declaration of August 9 as the “Day of Solidarity with Victims of Sexual Abuse and against Sexual Violence in Children and Adolescents” in Bolivia.

Putting the voices of survivors at the center

Listening to and amplifying the voices of survivors is crucial. It is a way to affirm and validate their experiences and provide the emotional support and dignity they deserve. Informed and credible interventions are also essential to effectively address sexual violence; these can only be achieved by fully understanding the experiences of those directly affected.

Survivors who become activists bring a unique and powerful perspective. Their personal stories reveal the complexities of sexual violence and highlight the urgent needs of victims. By sharing their stories, they not only raise public awareness but also advocate for policy and legal change in the pursuit of justice and reparations.

The Groundbreaking Case of Brisa de Angulo v Bolivia

In 2014, Equality Now partnered with Brisa De Angulo and her organization, A Breeze of Hope, to address Bolivia’s alarming rates of child sexual abuse and incest, and the gaps in the law that enable it.

We joined Brisa’s legal team to litigate her case against Bolivia, which resulted in a landmark ruling by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in 2023. This court ruling marks a significant step forward in protecting the rights of girls and adolescent survivors of sexual violence and improving their access to justice.

A strategic coalition was formed around Brisa’s case, which allowed for the sharing of expertise, greater understanding and ultimately greater impact. There is already a network of feminist lawyers working nationally, regionally and globally who can leverage the Court’s ruling in their own legal systems.

The coalition includes individuals and organizations from outside the legal system, which allows for conversations between actors who normally do not talk to each other. A good example of this is the inclusion of children’s organizations in the coalition. Their inclusion has led to more effective laws and implementation protocols that will strongly protect children and adolescents.

Solidarity and cooperation

Promoting strategic collaboration with survivor activists and their organisations is essential to amplify our collective voice and make our actions more effective and sustainable. The diversity of perspectives, especially those of the most marginalised and affected, allows for a better understanding of structural inequalities.

At Equality Now, we embrace every opportunity to collaborate on national, regional and international campaigns that protect and promote the human rights of women and girls. Working together with partners creates essential solidarity for change.

On this Day of Solidarity with Survivors of Sexual Violence, we urge governments and decision-makers to listen to, support and amplify the voices of survivors of sexual violence, and to compromise in creating and properly implementing strong laws that better serve survivors in their quest for justice. Watch and join the social media campaign led by A Breeze of Hope and the Breave Movement.

On August 9, organizations and activists in Bolivia and other regions of the world are unanimous to commemorate the Day of Solidarity with the victims of sexual aggression and the fight against sexual violence in Niños, Niñas and Adolescents. This is a source of inspiration for Brisa De Angulo, sexual violence and activist for the children of sexual violence, who will organize a march for the streets of Cochabamba, Bolivia, to make the most victims that do not exist solas. The beginning of the reception of an important statement is that the declaration of August 9 is the “Dia de la Solidaridad” with the victims of sexual aggression and against sexual violence in Niños, Niñas and Adolescents” in Bolivia.

Centrar las Voces de Sobrevivientes

Amplifying the voice of the sobrevivientes is crucial. It is a form of affirmation and validation of our experiences, which increases their emotional value and worth. Furthermore, for sexual violence to be effective, it is necessary to understand the joy of life that directly affects life.

Life is alive that activists can offer a unique perspective and poderosa. Our first-person testimonies reveal the full sexual violence and the urgent need of the victims. Although we compare our history, there is no public awareness, but it is worth keeping an eye on politics and achieve justice and reparations.

El Caso Emblemático de Brisa De Angulo vs. Bolivia

In 2014, Equality Now began a partnership with Brisa De Angulo and his organization, a Fundación a Brisa de Esperanza, to prevent the alarming consequences of child abuse and incesto in Bolivia, while the delay continues. No legal unity for the lawsuit against Bolivia, which culminates in a history of the Inter-American Corte Humanos trial in 2023. This judicial decision will be an important step forward in the protection of children and adolescents sexual violence and the greatest chance of access to justice.

If a coalition is formed in the case of Brisa, that the intercambio of conocimientos is allowed, a mayor can ultimately have a greater impact in a final case. There is a red feminist group that can confirm the judge’s ruling with its own legal system at the national, regional and international level.

The coalition includes more individuals and organisations than the entire justice system, enabling conversations with actors who normally do not communicate with each other. An example of this is the integration of children’s organisations into the coalition. More and more effective and implemented protocols have been developed that make the protection of children, young people and adolescents more robust.

Solidarity and cooperation

Fostering collaboration with sobreviviente activists and our organizations is intended to strengthen new collections and make new actions more effective and possible. The diversity of voices, especially the inclusion of people who are not safe, as groups in situations of vulnerability and historical discrimination, is fundamental to a better understanding of structural designs.

And equality Now we can offer the possibility to collaborate with national, regional and international campaigns that promote the protection and promotion of human people and children. With alias a solidarity is created that is essential to maintain the cambio.

On the Day of Solidarity with the sexual violence infections, reports of sexual acts and decisions on an escuchar, proclaim and amplify the voices of sexual violence, compromise with the creation and implementation of solid solid results that reach the most people in life in your court. Consult and participate in the campaign on social media by A Breeze of Hope and the Brave Movement