What is the emergency declaration for gender-based violence?

The declaration of a state of emergency for gender-based violence, issued today by Governor Pedro Pierluisi, sets out the responsibilities and orders the implementation of various measures to try to stop the incidence in Puerto Rico.

Here are 12 highlights from the Governor’s Executive Order.

Compliance officer

The Governor will appoint a civil servant as a compliance officer who will be directly accountable to him and who will devote himself full time to the implementation of this executive order, in addition to the administrative aspects of the anti-violence committee that will be set up. This includes, but is not limited to, supervising, monitoring and monitoring the implementation of the measures provided for in the order.

PARE Committee

The order creates the Committee for the Prevention, Support, Rescue and Education of Gender-Based Violence, which will recommend measures and policies. Its purpose will be to recommend measures and policies in place to meet the objectives of the executive order. 17 members are appointed and will be made up of different government agencies, which will send a representative; members of the private sector and non-profit organizations. This committee will be chaired by the secretary of the family, Carmen González Magaz, who has a master’s degree and a doctorate from Carlos Albizu University, being the internship and doctoral thesis on gender violence.

Mobile application

The order calls on the Puerto Rico Innovation and Technology Service, in collaboration with the Department of Public Safety and the PARE Committee, to develop an application for mobile devices through which victims and potential victims can request emergency assistance quickly, hiding the message sent to protect the victim of his aggressor.

Tracking victims

The order creates a follow-up program so that anyone with a gender-based violence protection order is contacted and / or visited by a law enforcement officer to verify their safety.

Complaints processing

The Department of Public Safety is mandated to improve the tools for processing and recording complaints or reports and the state of progress of cases.

Agent training

Training is required for all law enforcement officers and staff from government agencies relevant to the efforts of the PARE Committee.

Improving statistics

Provides process optimization to compile reliable statistics on the incidence of gender-based violence

Pink alert

It is ordered the evaluation and provision of recommendations for the implementation of the protocol known as the “RED ALERT Plan”, according to the provisions of Law no. 149-2019. This law was created to have greater mechanisms for the protection of missing or abducted women, to establish the powers and duties of government entities.

Evaluation of specialized divisions

It is ordered to evaluate the specialized sections of the Department of Justice and to explore alternatives in order to participate with greater sensitivity and effectiveness in cases with particularly vulnerable victims.

Economic development

The Department for Economic Development is mandated to evaluate and expand training and education programs for women that make it possible for them to integrate into the workforce.

Media campaigns

Command effective media campaigns on gender-based violence in alliance with private companies.

See the executive order here: