This text is part of the special section on International Cooperation
“He wouldn’t let me have a social media account, I couldn’t wear makeup. He was so jealous that once he broke my cell phone. He physically assaulted me twice during my pregnancy. I paid no attention to macho violence until one day I listened to activists on television. I felt like they were talking about us. »
In Bolivia, hundreds of young activists from the ACTÚA campaign are mobilizing to fight against sexual violence, a scourge that has only grown since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a video posted on social networks, an actress gives the testimony of Ibeth who, after ending her toxic relationship, became an activist for ACTÚA (“AGIS”). The awareness campaign against violence was launched in 2017 in Bolivia in the wake of international campaigns Enough !, Enough! and Basta! against violence against women. ACTÚA is supported by Oxfam-Québec and, until 2025, financial assistance from Global Affairs Canada as part of the project Women of Bolivia, your rights in the budget. This is one of the most successful campaigns of its kind in Latin America, according to Julie Perreault, Latin America program manager for Oxfam-Québec. The campaign also stands out on one point: it relies on young people as vectors of change.
A campaign by and for young people
Young activists from various regions of Bolivia meet regularly to discuss, exchange ideas and organize the next online research or awareness-raising activities. “It’s not just about getting messages across, but also about deconstructing [nos idées établies], testifies Kosset Anahí Mamani Coaquira, activist of ACTÚA. At each activity, we ask a lot of questions and have discussions that can last three hours. »
“In investigations into the myths of love, my colleagues highlighted the fact that eight out of ten women had already been exposed to violence,” explains the young activist. From their first romantic relationships, young people experience the cycle of violence. At the root of the problem are notably patriarchal values and attitudes that deny and trivialize violence, observe the authors of a report published by ACTÚA last November.
While becoming aware of the workings of violence, activists conduct population surveys to probe the prevalence of violence and the values underlying it. To raise awareness among other young people, they create books on the testimonies of victims or inspiring women, as well as videos posted on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram or TikTok. “We receive messages on social networks, from people who suffer from a type of violence or who want to better understand violence, and who want to talk to someone, observes the young activist. Several realized that they were experiencing violence and ended their romantic relationship. »
ACTÚA’s actions are part of a process of decolonization and “depatriarchalization”, explains Tania Nava Burgoa, project manager Women of Bolivia, your rights in the budget. “Activities like the latest survey follow a very Latin American methodology of participatory action research, which allows those who were excluded at certain times in history to participate and have a voice,” she says. Personal leadership and organization [des jeunes] are reinforced. We only provide support when young people ask for it, but they are the ones who make the decisions. »
“I believe that it is young people who can generate change, believes the project manager. ACTÚA proposes that young people can dream of a different world and begin to build it. The vision of young people is limitless, it offers new things, with the freedom to choose their path. She challenges herself constantly, without fear. »
A future full of challenges
“Over the past six months, approximately 50,000 people have followed the campaign’s actions on social networks, while 1,500 to 1,700 young people have been directly involved in the campaign,” reveals Julie Perreault.
“I dream that these sensitized and mobilized young people will be able to discuss with decision-makers and have a political impact, admits Tania Nava Burgoa. I believe they have a lot to say. »
If the young activists of ACTÚA can have a certain head start, the road to equality still seems long and strewn with pitfalls in Bolivia. Very profound social and cultural changes will have to be made, believes Tania Nava Burgoa, who hopes that the next generations will be able to live in a more equitable society.