The European Union reaffirms its commitment to eradicating gender-based violence in Cuenca

The day included a meeting with local actors working to prevent violence against women and girls, and a symbolic tour of the “Flowers in the Air” memory route.

CUENCA, Ecuador - Director of Human Development, Migration, Governance and Peace at the European Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, Erica Gerretsen, visited Cuenca as part of an official mission to learn about the progress and challenges of Spotlight Initiative, a global partnership between the European Union and the United Nations to eliminate violence against women and girls. The day included a meeting with local actors in the prevention space and a symbolic tour of  Flores en el Aire [Flowers in the Air], a memorial route honouring victims of femicide.

Dialogues with civil society organizations, public institutions and academia highlighted Cuenca's role in building local policies with a gender focus.

“We are very proud of the social fabric of this city and its commitment to women survivors of violence,” said Isabel Cordero of the Sendas Foundation.

Betty Guerra, a member of the Azuay Women's Political Coordination, emphasized the strength of support networks: “Our work is born out of determination and sisterhood; we support women who have not received reparations from the state, but who do find justice in collective processes.” Ms. Gerretsen thanked the women for their testimonies and highlighted the value of community work: “For the European Union, it is essential to listen to the voices of those on the ground. You are the ones who bring about real cultural change. Our role is to accompany and strengthen that effort."

Lola Valladares of UN Women, the leading Spotlight agency in Ecuador, recalled that Cuenca was one of the first areas prioritized by the Initiative, setting a precedent for innovative local policies that prevent gender-based violence.

The second part of the visit was an experiential tour of the Flores en el Aire memorial route, which highlights places linked to the lives of women victims of femicide, reclaiming urban space as territory of memory and resistance. On this occasion, the story of Maribel Pinto was honoured, with the participation of her daughter Miriam, family members and representatives of the Afro-Ecuadorian movement. The walk allowed participants to collectively mourn, humanise the statistics and pay tribute to the lives taken by violence.

The tour ended at the Vivas Nos Queremos [We Want to Live] bridge, where the names of women victims of femicide are written. There, the European Union delegate reiterated her commitment to eradicating gender-based violence and promoting concrete actions to ensure justice, reparations and prevention.

Gina Montano
UNFPA
Communications Officer
gmontano@unfpa.org
+5939 9270 7717

Isabel Iturralde
UN Women
Communications Officer
isabel.iturralde@unwomen.org
+5939 9503 6219

Mario Naranjo
Resident Coordinator's Office
Communications and Press Officer
mario.naranjo@un.org
+5939 608 75000

Melina Loayza
UNDP
Communications Officer
melina.loayza@undp.org
+593984330768