By Marisa Miodosky
June is a key month to reflect on what has been achieved (and what remains pending) in addressing gender-based violence in the region. A decade after the first “Ni Una Menos” cry, the cost of inaction remains unacceptable—both in lives and in economic development.
In June 2015, a slogan as simple as it was urgent—“Ni Una Menos” (“Not One Less”)—shook the streets of Buenos Aires and echoed across Latin America. What began as a protest against femicides in Argentina became a regional movement that changed language, the public agenda, and policy. In Peru, marches under the same slogan gathered hundreds of thousands of people in 2016 following the case of violence against Arlette Contreras. In Mexico, the slogan resonated strongly during the 8M and 9M protests. In Chile, the collective Las Tesis drew inspiration from Ni Una Menos for the performance “A Rapist in Your Path,” which became a global phenomenon. A decade later, it is necessary to assess what has been achieved and what remains pending, especially considering gender-based violence not only as a human rights violation but also as a persistent economic obstacle.
Social mobilization has led to concrete progress: laws defining femicide, specialized services, the generation of more (though still insufficient) data, and greater visibility of the issue. There have been notable initiatives, such as Ciudad Mujer in El Salvador, which integrated health, legal, and economic services and helped avoid re-victimization. However, the lack of sustained funding has weakened its reach. This contradiction is repeated in other countries: rights are recognized, but the resources to guarantee them remain insufficient.
According to the latest ECLAC data, in 2023 at least 3,897 femicides were recorded in the region—equivalent to 11 women killed per day for gender-related reasons. In comparative terms, the regional rate far exceeds the threshold considered a “public health epidemic”. Most of these crimes were committed by partners or former partners, and in many cases victims had already reported violence. Institutional response came too late—or not at all.
This violence also has an economic cost. The World Bank estimates that it represents up to 3.7% of GDP in some countries. In Buenos Aires City, the Latin American Team for Justice and Gender estimated that domestic violence costs more than US$137 million per year, equivalent to 11% of the city’s Health Ministry budget. Paraguay, Bolivia, and Peru have also recorded losses ranging from 2% to 6.5% of GDP due to this issue.
Impact evaluations in Latin America conclude that well-designed public prevention policies reduce gender-based violence. In Ecuador and the Dominican Republic, governments invested in women’s economic autonomy through conditional cash transfers or a combination of microcredit and gender training, reducing physical and emotional violence. In Brazil, group workshops with young men addressing masculinities and respectful relationships led to positive attitude changes and lower levels of violent behavior.
The evidence is clear: ignoring violence is extremely costly. And yet, budgets allocated to this issue remain insufficient. A review of public spending in 35 countries across Latin America and North America found that allocations ranged between 0.1% and 1% of national budgets. Gender-based violence implies healthcare costs to treat physical and mental consequences, loss of productivity, forced migration, and intergenerational poverty.
Ten years after Ni Una Menos, the message remains relevant: addressing violence against women is an ethical imperative, but also a sound economic decision. Investing in prevention, promoting women’s economic autonomy, and ensuring access to justice not only saves lives—it also strengthens democracies, improves competitiveness, and builds more resilient and prosperous societies. Latin America cannot afford to continue subjecting its women to injustice and ignoring the hidden cost of violence.