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Puerto Rico Declares State Of Emergency Over Violence Against Women

Pedro Pierluisi takes office as governor amid the island's ongoing efforts to claw itself out of an economic crisis and recover from natural disasters.
Eric Rojas
/
AFP via Getty Images
Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisi

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO

Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisi declared a state of emergency Sunday over the island’s gender violence crisis, a measure local groups have demanded from the government for years.

The executive order—which allocates public resources to address femicides and other forms of violence against women— is considered an important step in addressing a long-existing issue that jumped back into the spotlight after a recent murder.

“Gender violence is a social evil, based on ignorance and attitudes that cannot have space or tolerance in the Puerto Rico that we aspire to,” said Pierluisiin a press release. “It is my duty and my commitment as governor to establish a STOP to gender violence and for these purposes I have declared a state of emergency.”

Read more at our news partner the Miami Herald.

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