Fabiana Macías: survival, memory, and justice

F. Macías: I was able to speak about it openly in 2023, when my physical and mental integrity could no longer withstand one more sexual assault. I couldn’t go on living while being abused, nor while witnessing abuse against other women.

My sister and I had talked about it when we were children, teenagers, and adult women. I spoke about it with my cousins five years ago, but there are witnesses who can attest that it had been many years before that..

It’s incredible to me to realize that I can’t express myself well, that I’m not being understood or able to convey the message I want to share—and which I believe is truly important—but I lack the information and the professional tools that health experts have to do so. Still, I think it’s important to try—for the children, the teenagers, the women, and the men—who have been abused or could be abused. Unfortunately, the sexual abuse went on throughout our lives—from as far back as I can remember until a year before the formal complaint.

Everyone thinks I only reported childhood abuse—“just” that—and nothing more. And yet, that alone is no small thing. It’s outrageous and heartbreaking that the horrors children suffer are not part of any political agenda. There should be no statute of limitations for something that leaves lifelong consequences, and no universal concept of “credibility” when every person is different and traumatic events can destroy you.

It’s a true disaster for all the children and adolescents who have gone through this, whose message seems to be: “IT DOESN’T MATTER, MOVE ON WITH YOUR LIFE,” “IT’S OVER, GET OVER IT,” when the truth is it does matter, and it never ended—it never ends and never will. Post-traumatic stress takes many lives, both literally and figuratively.

Personally, my soul burns when I hear—or read—comments or references so irresponsible and careless toward children that they shake me to the core. Childhood sexual abuse is the most serious, torturous, and horrifying because children have no tools to defend themselves or understand what is happening to them. Their defense mechanisms involve shutting down, blocking it out, or developing chronic mental health issues that—sooner or later—prevent them from functioning in society. From there, the inability to work or maintain a healthy and fulfilling social life often follows.

Adults don’t get involved unless it happens to us or someone close to us. That’s why, in organizations, foundations, or institutions, there are very few truly active members—and those who are, do it purely out of conviction and honor.

I always think about the fact that children can’t defend themselves, and if the narrative around time and credibility still exists today, they will never dare to seek help. Because, in reality, help isn’t there. They hear, they see, and they feel guilt. Adults are irresponsible—we believe that as long as it doesn’t happen to our own children, other children don’t matter. We judge those who come forward, and we don’t care at all about the harm we cause to those who dare to break the silence.

The damage caused by sexual abuse cannot be measured—because society doesn’t want to measure it. We hear that tired phrase: “But so much time has passed... it’s over now. Why bring it up?”

First of all, because I couldn’t take it anymore—my life had fallen apart. And no, it wasn’t over—that was when it actually began. I’m a lawyer, I’m an adult, and I’m deeply ashamed to say this happened to me until I was 34 years old. And yes, I feel immense guilt. Why did I only report it at that age? The answer lies within all of us. And we’re not even ashamed to keep questioning the reasons why someone who’s been abused their entire life would dare to speak up. The simple answer—for others—should be enough. But no, we always spit upward—or into the wind.

About my credibility and the time it took... I feel I should explain it, but I also think doing so just feeds people’s morbid curiosity, and it’s not necessary. Still, the idea is to get the message across—even if I can’t, even if I don’t want to—because my mind fills with perverse, torturous images. I fight for the girl, the teenager, and the young woman—because I’m ashamed to fight for myself.The forms, the circumstances, and the frequency of the abuse were different depending on the tools I had to defend myself and the physical, mental, and social mechanisms I had available to survive. At 34, I could struggle or scream, I could run away or hide, I could ask someone to walk me to the bathroom or alert others. I was an adult lawyer, aware of the risks I faced, and trying to prevent other women and men from having to face such cruel and ruthless dangers. At 9 years old, I didn’t even know what was happening to me. Do you understand?

F.Macias: Yes, I didn't expect it at all. The family knew, everyone knew. During all the time I lived through the abuse, I also witnessed the abuse of other girls, teenagers, and adult women. That's why for me, there was no escape, no one could say anything. I thought I was going to ruin the lives of my family and my cousins. And that definitely was the case. Both families were ruined, but many girls, teenagers, and women were saved. I feel like they have anger, disgust, and hatred towards me; that hurts me every day. I cry a lot lately, I feel very alone. I love my cousins, and I know I'll never stop loving them. There are no memories without them, there are no pictures without them. There are no stages of my life without them. I miss them. I feel like I will live with the hope that someday I can hug them, because I have forgiven them, I forgive them, and I will forgive them. I don't understand what happened, they had shown us their support, and I counted on that. I carry the burden of feeling that they are not happy, and I wish they could free themselves and heal. I can't say that I am happy, but I can say that I am trying to live in peace. I am sure they know that I did what I had to do, I am certain they understand that none of the four of us could continue living the way we were. They are not guilty, I would never do anything against them, and they know that. I don't know if it's reciprocal, but they can have that peace. Nothing they do — no matter how bad — will make me stop loving them.

As for the rest of their environment, I don't care what they do or what they say.

F.Macias: My hope was that one of the victims would be brave enough to say something, that someone would save us. I saw that all of us had sad, embarrassed faces, and many of us were crying. Although I didn't understand what was happening, I was angry with myself, and the monster filled me with disgust and terror.

The truth is that I thought someone would eventually dare, and I knew that if that someone reported it, I would immediately come forward to support them. I thought about many of the women who had been abused and whom I witnessed, but it didn't happen. Due to health issues with one of my cousins, I had decided to stay silent forever. Until I saw some situations where girls were exposed, and I felt like a worthless person. I hated myself more each day. Once, I witnessed parents of two little sisters forcing them to greet the monster; I wanted to react, but I knew it would be pointless and that the stigma and prejudice would condemn me. When my brother went with my little niece, I spent all the time with her in my arms. My arms would cramp, I couldn't take it anymore. But I could never take any risks, and if people noticed, they would interpret it as just too much love — but no, it's enough love. The monster didn’t get near my son or my nephews, but he did to other children. I never thought that it would be me who would report it. The terror I had about speaking up and accepting what was happening to all of us, in front of everyone, was to become anything but a human being.

On September 5, 2024, my sister asked me if I had seen what she had shared on Instagram. I saw it, and went to ask her if she was going to dare. There were no words needed, we just looked at each other, and we did it. She was leaving in two days, and I think both of us had always felt the need to report what was happening. Not for us anymore, we had already spoken with my cousins and my aunt, we no longer saw them. My cousins had known for many years but decided that he was their father, and they had to live with that. We resigned ourselves, and we didn’t report it to avoid causing them harm. But my sister had a stroke, and I sank and got lost. With the consequences, we have understood the importance of reporting the abuse. One cannot only think about oneself, especially when seeing the depravity and indifference to which one has been subjected and the consequences of living with that perversity. When I reported it, I was absolutely certain that he had to be detained immediately, because when we instinctively decided to report it, I had previously made a post of a story I had written many years ago, together with the post my sister had made on Instagram. But I named the monster. “Instinct has no contraindications,” and several victims and witnesses came forward. From there, more victims and more witnesses.

When my lawyers mention the amount of evidence, it’s truly alarming. It’s inexplicable the number of victims, witnesses, conversations, threats, and assaults. It’s unbelievable that in a sexual abuse case, there are so many pieces of evidence, and more keep adding up day by day. Even though the monster's environment discourages even the people who show support and accompany us.

F. Macias: I understood what was happening to me in different ways and from different dimensions. As a child, I didn’t have the tools to decipher or understand; added to that, a child's mind is fragile, and the defense mechanisms are also cruel. Understanding it means being aware of the irreparable damage caused by abuse, and that comes with the consequences.

When I was 12 years old, I was abused on the street by a stranger, and I cried and screamed desperately. I went back home, and my dad went crazy searching for the person who had hurt me. He took me to file a report, and the police treated it as something normal, I felt unprotected and mocked. From then on, I always thought I shouldn’t tell my dad, because I thought his reaction could push him away from me. I didn’t want to always be a problem, and even though I’m aware that I’m not, people treat you as if you are. The cruelest thing that night—and I have it close to my soul—was that the monster was sitting next to me while I cried. The monster tried to comfort me, and they called him to help. I saw no way out, he was my father’s best friend and my aunt’s husband. I was aware of what was happening in every way. I understood the gravity of what was happening to me; and I noticed the indifference, the apathy, and how unimportant we were as children and teenagers.

The question is hard to answer because even today I don’t fully understand or comprehend it. I can’t accept having lived my life between torment, cruelty, and inhumanity. I only perceived how devastating it is to be a victim of abuse when the consequences appeared, and when I could talk about it with others who had suffered the same. I only understood it was torture when it was already too late. But in reality, I had always manifested moments of deep darkness, resorting to alcohol to the point of unconsciousness and anything destructive one can imagine. It was so difficult for me to accept what I was living because I always questioned myself, always tortured myself with the why? What’s happening to me? Why do I cry every day?... For me, there was nothing new, for me, that was my life. Everything about me spoke it, the music, the avoidant movements, the questioning from my ex-partners about my coldness, the constant dissociation, that constant stress and the fear of confronting fear and pain.

I only now understand, I only now understand myself. I don’t think I fully comprehend it because I still can’t resign myself to the fact that my life has been ruined. What really helped me try to understand that the monster ruined my life was seeing him near other children. And not being indifferent by looking the other way. When he got close to a girl or a boy, I had abnormal reactions… it hurt my soul, and I felt like trash. That’s when I realized that I had been abused my entire life.

F. Macias: At that time, and even now, talking about this subject makes others uncomfortable. No one imagines that their best friend, or their brother, or the child’s own father could hurt them. But reality hits us all closely or touches us. Most of us have been touched, and it has also hit us closely. But we remain silent, getting outraged by the news in the papers. Pretending it hasn’t happened, that it’s not that serious. And even if you feel you’ve handled it and that it hasn’t affected you, you’re wrong about everything. It has affected you, and there’s probably something screaming at you about it; like for example, OTHERS. Reporting is healing, and above all, it’s preventing further abuse, it’s an act of humanity.

In my childhood and adolescence, I also didn’t have support in education, because I had never been warned about what was happening or why. I didn’t know my body, nor did I have anyone to turn to, nor the necessary information to ask for help. Everyone knew something was happening to me, I harmed myself in every possible way; but no one questioned what was going on. I’ve always been exposed to the man who abused me since I was born until 2023, I don’t have memories before the age of 9. And I wish I never had them, I’m terrified of them.

I don’t understand people who make ESI (Integral Sexual Education) a political issue, you must be very stubborn to criticize sexual education for children. Sexual abuse doesn’t ask what political party you belong to, it’s everywhere. ESI is essential, fundamental, and probably the salvation for many children, girls, and teenagers. Discourses that question ESI with arguments that have nothing to do with children are selfish, irresponsible, and negligent. Children need to know what shouldn’t happen to them and what they should report. Let’s not forget that there are children abused by their own parents.

The paradigm shift in human rights, both nationally and internationally, is trampling many vulnerable people who are completely unprotected. The regression is deplorable, and it’s something that generates a lot of fear in me. I hope the leaders raise their voices and fight against these aberrations, and that abuses become part of the agenda. That’s the only possible support, generating awareness and putting the topic on the agenda. That’s just my opinion, and I’m no one important to speak, but I’m convinced that abuse is everyone’s problem.

The support I’ve always felt has been from my family, my son, my lawyers, my friends, and groups.

F. Macias: Yes, the whole environment of the monster. When I decided to report it, one of the girls who played with me during my adolescence contacted me. She told me that the monster had an obsession with me and that she imagined my life was very difficult, and that she was willing to give her testimony. The abuser’s family intimidated many witnesses, victims, and even people who publicly supported our cause.

Everyone saw, even everyone remembers that I tried to say it and couldn’t.

I’ve thought my whole life that no one noticed, but it turns out there are direct witnesses to atrocities and unpleasant situations at every stage of my life. That burns me, annihilates me, and overwhelms me. Since I reported it, I haven’t stopped thinking that they could have helped me, they could have saved my life. Currently, the witnesses are showing similar symptoms to depression, or are depressed. They apologize, regret it, and feel ashamed… but it’s too late. Their children and wives knew. Their friends knew too. All the victims have, at some point, been witnesses ourselves.

No one wanted to get involved, no one wanted to have a problem. So much so that there are witnesses who don’t want to come forward, and there are victims of the monster who deny what I’ve seen. The fear I felt as a child, teenager, university student, and woman… was not unjustified. Society condemns you, isolates you. I’ve come out of hell, and I’ve entered another. Prevention is essential because “generally people, if it doesn’t happen to them, don’t feel it.” I’ve been repeatedly told the phrase “don’t get me involved”… IT HURTS.

F. Macias: Emotionally, it was, is, and will be devastating. I have severe chronic depression, and access to mental health care is costly and inaccessible to me. I am an independent lawyer, and I have lost many clients. I have lost my freedom, my independence, and my good name and honor have been destroyed at will. I am not brave enough to go out; I cannot be functional in society. I cannot be responsible for my son, nor for myself. What holds me up and what I fight with is dignity and the awareness of my integrity. And I don't feel respected, I don't feel it is recognized as it should be for all abuse victims.

I decided to make it public and put a face to the cause so that others dare to report, so that we all have this opportunity. So that we all have justice, because I know that it is needed. And I know what it costs, hurts, what you lose, and what it means, but they are there. I exposed myself publicly because it felt necessary to me; the versions about me ranged from mental illnesses to manipulations of the system. I was shocked when I saw that the media did anything with the truth, talking about deadlines, dates, and events based on what they wanted to defend. And I had never given any dates, facts, nor spoken to any journalist. I am grateful to Fernando Lagar for the opportunity to be heard and respected, to Página 12, to El Destape, to La Palta de Tucumán, and other media that have reported objectively based on facts, and most of all, for giving me the chance to bring visibility to this cause, because all of us who suffer from aberrant events need the voice of the people, the repudiation of those acts, and transparency in the cause.

That is why I decided to make it public, to speak in interviews, to use all social media. I cannot accept that, due to indifference or unscrupulous interests, that monster remains on the streets. Serious things have happened throughout the process, and for me, it is desperate.

F. Macias: I have been motivated by many children, teenagers, women, and violent, aggressive, and inhuman situations. I know exactly what it is to suffer cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment. My cousin recently had a child; we have always known that when any of my cousins have a child... they HAD to report. My son turned 9 one month after the report. My psychologist considers my son's 9 years as the main driving force, but I had plenty of reasons and motives. I didn’t do it earlier because of the fear that exactly what is happening now would happen... and the legal outlook that he is "supposedly imprisoned" (since he hadn't been) is the best possible outcome for a victim of abuse.

I have spoken to my cousin about not letting the monster near his girlfriend's nieces, and I have witnessed a situation where they were forced to greet him. My cousin, knowing what that monster did – and having accepted it, cried over it, and renounced his father – exposed those two creatures only for social appearances. Another monster. It shattered my soul. My last conversation defending those girls caused him to insult me and treat me with hate, anger, frustration, disgust, and contempt… The main reason is that I don’t want to be like the others. I do care about children, teenagers, women, and men. I can’t stand not being the person I’ve always needed. But it’s impossible alone, and very few support these causes. I want to be loyal to myself and regain my dignity. Among other reasons I can’t mention out of respect for my cousins, whom I still love.

I was motivated to save my life, my sister’s life, and my mother’s life. I was motivated by the other victims, and to prevent future abuses. For this, I thank the institutions, groups, and foundations for the support they have provided. Above all – and I repeat – my gratitude is to my family, my lawyers, my friends, acquaintances, and strangers who are there fighting side by side.

F. Macias: No. An essential resource is missing: humanity. Children need information, access to institutions or people who love what they do. We need people who fight for human rights with the strength, passion, awareness, and love that it requires. THEY ARE HUMAN RIGHTS! But everything is infested with political and economic interests, and we have regressed to alarming levels. Even the speeches are aggressive, violent, disrespectful, and painful. Children are a business for others; no one is interested in applying international treaties or activating protocols. If you report it, society automatically labels you. They categorize you as the bad one, the one they don’t want to see, "they are capable of denying the truth to the point of absurdity."

They still question the credibility of victims, still put a time limit on a timeless pain. Scientifically and statistically, everyone knows that sexual abusers are sexual abusers forever. The time limit is a facilitator of pedophilia; there is no intention of protecting children. They subject children to raw processes, demonize mothers. The process ends up ANNIHILATING people, and it’s no longer possible to talk about justice… especially if it arrives 10 years later.

One cannot think that only comprehensive sex education and protection organizations – which I consider essential – are enough because society turns its back on them, whether they report it or not. They need to know their rights, they need representation. Indifference, neglect, selfishness, and empty speeches are a problem of humanity. If you see a child going through that, don’t look the other way. You could save their life. Or you can be another social scourge.
I believe children should have human rights classes from the earliest years of their education. I think we must stop using human rights as mere political flags and give them the importance they deserve. Life, health, identity, freedom, dignity... to begin with.

F. Macias: The main and unconditional support I’ve received is from my son. He loves me and makes sure to show it every time he can. He makes me feel that what I’m going through is worth it, and he accepts my flaws, understanding my pain. He always has words of love, empathy, and encouragement. Conversations with him are my grounding force; he loves me. I also rely on the love of my family, although they too have suffered and are going through the process of acceptance, mourning, and social rejection. I am truly desolate and scared, yet they remain with me in the isolation and indifference. However, it’s worth noting that these situations cause arguments, pain, guilt, and despair. Sometimes they can’t help me, and I don’t know how to help them either.

I’ve sought help from health professionals whom I admire, respect, and am extremely grateful to for their treatment and desire to help me.

I have had the dedication, support, and accompaniment of Silvina Castaño and Diego Lindow, who represent me in the case. When the preventive measure was resolved, we hugged each other, crying; she lived through it with me. I have so much to thank her for.

I’ve been supported by people who have gone through the same thing; they always make sure I know it. They say beautiful things to me, send me gifts, and we have conversations about the subject. Some tell me they keep me in their prayers, and that moves me to tears.

There are also a few friends, the ones who truly love me and believe in the cause with conviction, who condemn the abominations and contribute what they can. The ones who want me to relax, visit me, or try to get me to go for walks.

It’s worth highlighting and essential to mention the support I’ve received from protective mothers, survivors' groups, and feminist organizations from my country and others. The organizations that prevent and fight against sexual abuse have been supporting me always, though we are all suffering in one way or another.

I’ve been in contact with people from Chile, Mexico, and Spain, who have done everything they can to help me. I am very grateful to each of the women who have supported and accompanied me. I have so much to thank feminism for, as well as the survivors and protective mothers in Spain because I don’t know how I could have continued without their words, their time, and their care. They are still there, showing not only support but also love. I say this with tears in my eyes. I am eternally grateful to them. They have supported me from Barcelona, Valencia, Andalucía, and especially a friend from Madrid. My friend holds me up and helps me, advises me, and has great faith in my ability to move forward.

I love my country, I know that there are many women who truly feel that fight, and I’ve met them. I consider them essential to going through these processes, I need them so I don’t feel alone. I truly need them.

F. Macias: The main challenge has been learning to love myself with all my soul, so I could remove the guilt that didn’t belong to me. Shame doesn’t belong to the monsters, the abusers don’t feel shame. The shame is with you, and it’s largely due to society’s attitude when you can put into words the hell you’ve gone through. The shame belongs to society. We all have to take responsibility for that, that’s what humanity is about. And I think we can’t allow so many arguments to justify inaction in the face of such injustices.

It seems impossible to change the collective unconscious, but it seems worse to accept that any atrocity can happen to sexual abuse victims. It’s horrifying that children are left to chance, to their luck... One of the main challenges I’ve faced has been realizing that everything I studied and held as a banner was actually empty discourse. That everyone looks the other way if you haven’t been pointed out. But because of the people I’ve mentioned, because of the principles and values I haven’t betrayed, and because I believe in human rights... I still have faith.

F.Macias: I’ll be brief: Sexual abuse ruins your life. You can’t deny the obvious, you can’t look the other way. Preventing it is everyone’s task, and it’s a duty to children. I like the phrase "For justice that matches childhood," but I’d also highlight that we need a society that is at the level of children; we need to be aware that the integrity of children is everyone’s responsibility, whether or not they are our children. It’s easy to find out that children are abused by their parents by simply entering social media or reading the news, whether digital or printed. You can never think of not getting involved and washing your hands. I hope they have an awareness of the torture that children are subjected to, there is no room for indifference or apathy. It could happen to anyone, and it could happen close to you.

F. Macias: Everything is legislated, everything is written. What’s missing is its implementation, and the public or private positions defending or protecting children should be filled by people with conviction and passion for human rights. Additionally, child sexual abuse (CSA) could be put on political agendas, and we should WANT to fight against the monsters. It can be done because I’ve met many people who feel and think from the perspective of others, and that humanity is essential if we want to help others.

If protocols are implemented—if awareness is raised—and if everyone gets involved in the protection and prevention of abuse, at least we can have a starting point. We don’t need to keep promulgating, promulgating, and promulgating, or recognizing those who promulgate, what we need is to be guaranteed access to justice, respect for our human rights, protection, and the enforcement of prevention protocols for CSA, as well as the protocol for victim protection. It’s not enough to just have a flyer of condemnation, we need action and application.

We need action, and it’s urgent. We need SOCIAL JUSTICE.

F. Macias: I haven’t received any responses, nor support. Several people close to me have told me that the monster has political protection, and sometimes it feels and seems that way. There have been irregularities of significant institutional gravity, and that really terrifies me. On paper, everything is in order, but apparently, the abuser and his environment can do whatever they want and do whatever they want to me.

I don’t feel protected by the authorities, I haven’t had support from organizations. When I’ve contacted any human rights, gender, or feminist organizations, it’s been because I demanded it. The power imbalance is desperate, and human rights shouldn’t be begged for; they should be demanded.

However, I can’t complain. Justice has issued the preventive detention, and that’s not easy to achieve. But it’s the right thing, what corresponds. I’d like to have the protection of human rights organizations, as well as support and containment. In fact, that’s supposed to be the first thing I should be getting. I don’t have many explanations for the question of Why?

F. Macias: I feel that it is unfair, and that nothing can do justice to having lost my childhood. I feel that it is inhuman and degrading to go through the indescribable and timeless pain, between indifference and contempt. And I hope that no one has to experience this; and to those who have not yet been able to put it into words; I understand and respect them. But the only solution is to speak, speak, and speak… for oneself and for others.

Regarding what I’ve lived through, I feel anger, fear, and helplessness. I relied on empathy, respect, and kindness. I ran into a wall, and that’s doubly painful. I believe we need to stop talking about life, health, dignity, honor, integrity, and justice in terms of deadlines or social acceptance with baseless standards. That social mask is what destroys children, because people prefer to be socially accepted rather than saving a life.

F. Macias: It’s difficult, but I will think about what I feel, think, and need. If I were to convey something to a little girl going through that, I would first tell her that I love her. I would make it clear that she is not a problem and that she has done nothing wrong. I would ask her to be brave, but I would respect her decision when it comes to what a legal process means, which in no way means I wouldn’t take charge of the matter.

I would immediately turn to a mental health professional, as I am fully aware that she would need to recover her little mind and understand what has happened. She needs protection, security, acceptance, respect, and love.

She needs her dignity, and that’s why she is owed justice. I would tell her that I have gone through the same thing, and that I know there are people who will help us and care for us. I would respect her right to be heard and constantly keep in mind the best interests of the child. I would avoid her being re-victimized, invalidated, or despised. I would articulate all necessary actions, but she would be absolutely certain that she deserves to be defended.

If I spoke to a woman who had gone through the same thing as a child, I would first give her a hug and cry for her pain. I would sit next to her and tell her exactly the same thing I would tell the little girl. But I would make it clear that deadlines don’t matter, nor how accepted she is by society. What I want to convey is that the protection protocol for victims MUST and MUST be applied. And it’s ALL of society that must demand it and apply it. We need institutional justice and social justice. We need our history to be recognized. We need to be respected.

The message would be: Your trust, your freedom to express what is happening to you, to help you unravel it, to devise strategies to get through it... comes from self-love. You are not hurting anyone, no one is hurt by being sad. They hurt us, showing themselves as people who prefer to take the easy way out, and worse yet, they have no common sense. You don’t emotionally affect me, you give me the honor of being that person I needed so much. I see you, I offer you my hand. In me, there is beauty and certainty in knowing that your pain is not a danger to anyone, it’s the fault of those “nobodies.”

Childhood is the ground we will walk on for the rest of our lives. (Lya Luft)

F. Macias: It’s not yet implemented in my city, but when I was told what it was about, I remember my first reaction was to get emotional and cry. Just the fact that there is a resource to locate safe places or a way to prevent them from attacking you or committing any kind of violence against you gave me a sense of calm and relief. The possibility of reporting any sexist aggression, receiving support and assistance from Puntos Violeta, and the help of security officers.

As for containment and the possibility of being assisted—I think—I would have had many chances to be protected and have sought professional health assistance.

Being able to access accessible and trustworthy spaces, which in certain situations might not feel as intimidating as the police, official bodies, or even one’s own family, where it’s possible to ask for help, receive guidance, and be directed to the right resources, would have undoubtedly been very helpful.

What attracts me the most is the issue of social justice; I see it as a way for others to take an active role, as well as being a way to help each other within a framework of security that the app provides.

In the conversation about the functionality, they highlighted access to information on the topic, which implies a solid base for prevention. It’s noteworthy that it also provides advice on whom to turn to, how to do it, and where to go. All of this with the certainty of being safe and protected. This, in turn, means accompaniment and validation, and it’s a way of applying protection protocols, under the gaze of an app that collects data and preconstitutes evidence elements in case of disappearance.

Puntos Violeta allows us to be part of that support, respect, and help that victims need, and it’s an essential tool for changing the collective unconscious and making us more empathetic and more human. As both passive and active subjects in the app, we always have the opportunity to take advantage of all the tools it offers and also be that person who accompanies in the processes. It’s fundamental to be aware that she is not alone, and with the app, she won’t be and will know where to turn.

I have suffered violence all my life, and I never knew where to ask for help, which was despairing. In the talk I had with Federico, when they told me what Puntos Violeta is and how it works, I asked about different scenarios, situations, and possibilities. No question was left unanswered with a solution for preventing heinous acts—besides that—it offers a point of attention and action against sexual assaults, humiliations, sexual harassment, abuse, etc., both for the victims and the witnesses.

Beyond me, I have no doubt it helps all women with prevention, precaution, containment, information, and—above all—to save themselves from dangerous situations and know they are not alone. Within the resources the app offers, you can also give peace of mind to your family and friends, preventing their worries or fears. What I find marvelous is that the app drives society to take an active role in defending vulnerable women. I consider it a tool that fosters and needs social justice. What moves me most about this tool is the fact that, to prevent violence, it also calls on society to take an active role. At the same time, it provides an opportunity for many people who want to help, and they will be able to do so within a framework of safety for all.

Puntos Violeta is not just about indicating where to seek help, but it also allows the person going through a dangerous situation to access containment and support, preventing the despair and fear that paralyze you. It’s not the same to feel alone, it doesn’t matter not knowing where to go.

The contribution of the app can be immense for women, from access to information, to seeking help and knowing they will get it, to knowing there are resources in society. To receive containment, to give peace of mind. This is evident when we put ourselves in those risky situations, but you have the necessary information, locations of public and private organizations, asking for containment and support, advice, and safe points while being protected during the process.

For me, I think a lot about how the information and containment would have been decisive in knowing I was safe, protected, supported, and able to escape from hell.

I hope many tools are implemented to protect women and girls. My side comment is a question about the functionality or application of Puntos Violeta regarding childhood and adolescence. I hope the app reaches those who need it the most.