Gender Violence Crisis: Femicide and the Colonial State's Failure

The gender violence crisis in Puerto Rico is a colonial crisis — rooted in structural conditions that colonialism creates and maintains.

The Numbers:
- Puerto Rico's femicide rate is significantly higher than the mainland U.S. average
- In 2020, approximately 60 women were killed in gender-based violence
- Domestic violence reports number in the tens of thousands annually
- Sexual assault is dramatically underreported
- Trans and nonbinary Puerto Ricans face disproportionate violence — including several high-profile murders

Governor's Emergency Declaration (2021):
On January 25, 2021, Governor Pedro Pierluisi signed Executive Order 2021-033 declaring a state of emergency for gender-based violence. The order:
- Acknowledged that gender violence constituted a public health emergency
- Directed government agencies to coordinate response
- Created a task force to address systemic failures
- Was the result of years of feminist organizing and advocacy

The Colonial Dimension:
1. Austerity and services: PROMESA-mandated austerity has cut funding for domestic violence shelters, counseling services, and crisis hotlines. Women seeking to escape violence have fewer resources.
2. Police failure: Puerto Rico's police force has been under a federal consent decree since 2012 due to excessive force and civil rights violations — including failures in responding to domestic violence calls
3. Court system: Colonial fiscal constraints have reduced court capacity — protective orders take longer to process, prosecutions are delayed
4. Housing: Domestic violence survivors need safe housing — but the housing crisis (Act 60 displacement, Airbnb, public housing deterioration) reduces available options
5. Economic dependency: Women in Puerto Rico earn less than men, with fewer employment options due to the contracted economy — economic dependency makes it harder to leave violent relationships
6. Migration: The population decline means fewer community support networks — women in abusive situations may have less family support as relatives leave the island

Feminist Organizing:
Puerto Rican feminists have been at the forefront of resistance:
- Colectiva Feminista en Construcción: A leading feminist organization that has organized marches, provided support services, and lobbied for policy changes
- Kilómetro 0: A shelter and support center for gender violence survivors
- Annual marches: Feminist marches draw thousands, centering gender violence as a political issue
- Legal advocacy: Feminist lawyers have pushed for stronger protections and enforcement
- 'Ni una menos': Puerto Rico's movement connects to the Latin American feminist wave against femicide

What Needs to Change:
Feminist organizations argue that ending gender violence requires:
- Increased funding for shelters and support services (not austerity)
- Police reform (ongoing, under federal oversight)
- Economic opportunity for women (impossible under colonial fiscal constraints)
- Cultural change (challenging machismo, patriarchal norms)
- Community-based prevention programs
- Adequate housing for survivors