Adolescents from Caazapá and Yuty raise their voices against gender-based violence

Art, reflection and youth participation to promote safer and violence-free communities.

With the goal of fostering safer and violence-free environments, the Sixth Health Region – Caazapá launched the Poster Contest on Violence Against Women , an initiative supported by the Religious Foundation for Health (FRS) and the Caazapá Governorate . The contest brought together teenagers from the districts of Caazapá and Yuty , who used art to express clear, sensitive, and powerful messages against all forms of violence against women.

The competition was held as part of the activities commemorating November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women , and as part of the agreement “Improving access to and quality of public adolescent health services with a focus on sexual and reproductive health and reducing teenage pregnancy in Paraguay .” This agreement is implemented by the Ministry of Public Health and the Religious Foundation for Health , and is funded by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) .

The initiative promoted prevention, awareness and active participation of adolescents, reinforcing the institutional commitment to building protective environments and relationships based on equality and respect.

The call received an outstanding response from the educational community: 8 educational institutions from Caazapá and 12 schools from Yuty actively participated, demonstrating the interest of students and teachers in reflecting on, debating and making visible this social problem through creativity and artistic expression.

The posters presented were characterized by their originality, expressive power and sensitivity , reflecting the will of the youth to raise their voices and contribute to social change from their communities.

 

To conclude the event, three prizes were awarded to the works that stood out for clarity of message, visual impact, and creativity. Beyond the awards ceremony, the day solidified its position as a space for encounter, learning, and collective reflection.

The Sixth Health Region and FRS emphasized the importance of creating spaces where adolescents can express themselves, strengthen their skills, and see themselves as agents of change . They also reaffirmed their commitment to continue supporting initiatives that promote rights, foster equality, and contribute to eradicating violence against women.