Photo courtesy of “La Chola Habla”

Article by RET in Costa Rica

SAN JOSÉ, COSTA RICA – This November 25 marked the National and International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and RET in Costa Rica is raising its voice in the global denunciation against street sexual harassment and violence against women that still persists in society.

As part of a powerful initiative, the statue of “La Chola”, located on Central Avenue in San José, has come to life using artificial intelligence to break the silence that has marked 25 years of abuse. Her voice symbolizes thousands of Costa Rican women who face fear, discrimination and violence on a daily basis.

The campaign, under the slogan “Breaking with 25 years of Silence and Violence Due to their Gender Condition” (originally, Rompiendo con 25 años de silencio y violencia por su condición de género), wants to make visible every “touch” that this statue suffers on a daily basis, revealing in real-time the sexual harassment that so many women face daily. This effort aims to raise awareness and promote collective action to activate the existing care mechanisms in the country.

Artwork courtesy of the campaign “La Chola Habla”

In Costa Rica, sexual harassment is a crime punishable by prison sentences ranging from 6 to 24 months in prison.  Some of its manifestations are exhibitionism or masturbation; the persecution or cornering and production of audiovisual material with sexual connotations of another person without their consent.

Street sexual harassment can occur on public roads, in a park, on the beach or even on public transportation, and the outlook in Costa Rica is alarming. According to data from the Observatory of Gender Violence against Women and Access to Justice of the Judiciary, during 2022 and under the Law against Street Sexual Harassment, more than 200 cases of violation of the aforementioned law were registered.

The proposal inspires women to raise their voices and denounce any form of street sexual harassment. If a woman is a victim of sexual harassment, she must report it to 9-1-1 who will alert the police to attend, as they have the duty to intervene quickly in situations of street sexual harassment, and collaborate in the identification of the perpetrator.  Complaints against this type of crime are filed with the OIJ delegations or with the Prosecutor’s Offices throughout the country.

Artwork courtesy of the campaign “La Chola Habla”

Currently, the campaign has the support of the National Institute of Women (INAMU), the Embassy of the United States, the Minister of the Status of Women and the United Nations (UN); and the support of companies such as Brandy, CCK, Octoplus and RET Internacional. This innovative proposal not only aspires to have an impact on the National and International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, but also to inspire a cultural change that recognizes and protects the right of all women to live free from violence.

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