El Deber reports on this worrying issue that needs ALL our attention to make it stop!

The information was disclosed on the occasion of the world day against gender violence, which takes place each November 25, in order to create awareness to put an end to this social scourge. “In Bolivia, seven out of ten women suffer some kind of physical and verbal aggression from her partner ,” insisted Yasukawa, to demand that these events do not go unpunished.

Women who marched yesterday in Santa Cruz capital, stated that one of the constraints for the violence are laws, which include mild penalties for spouses, cohabitees and boyfriends’ aggressors. They protested that Law 1674 only provides economic fines and detention of up to four days for those who have incurred in physical or psychological abuse against their partners.

However, they indicated that several institutions are pushing for more exemplary punishments to those offenders; such as the inclusion of Femicide as a criminal offence in the Penal Code, a penalty of 30 years in prison with no right to pardon.

http://www.eldeber.com.bo/2011/2011-11-26/vernotaahora.php?id=111125225815

It is only in our best interest and predisposition to lower those high rates in domestic violence. It is not up to any government nor religion, it is something we must change on our own, as individuals towards a better society. Bolivians can do better, yes we can!