Uruguay Deploys 'Élida 360' App as Digital Shield in Fight Against Gender Violence

4 hours ago7 min read1 comments

In a landmark move to address gender-based violence with digital tools, Uruguay has launched Élida 360, a mobile application that serves as an emergency lifeline for survivors. The app, introduced in late October, is named in honor of Élida Pensado Graña, the nation's first female police officer, symbolically linking a contemporary solution to a legacy of breaking barriers.Élida 360's primary feature enables users to instantly report perpetrators who violate court-issued restraining orders and other protective measures, aiming to bridge the dangerous gap between a legal decree and a victim's physical safety. This development is a critical part of Uruguay's ongoing struggle against a pervasive machista culture and a high rate of femicide, a regional crisis starkly highlighted by Argentina's 'Ni Una Menos' movement.While the 2017 Comprehensive Law on Gender-Based Violence established a legal framework, the app provides a practical mechanism to accelerate police response, potentially transforming a mobile device into a vital protective tool. Yet, the initiative's effectiveness hinges on several factors.Its success assumes broad smartphone penetration and digital literacy, which may exclude vulnerable populations in rural or low-income areas. Furthermore, its utility is entirely dependent on a well-trained, rapid-reaction police force capable of acting decisively on the digital alerts.Critics caution against 'technosolutionism,' warning that technology must not become a substitute for robust state action and systemic reform. The ultimate verdict on Élida 360 will be determined by its real-world performance: the reliability of its technical infrastructure, the trauma-informed design of its interface, and, most importantly, a measurable decline in repeat offenses and gender-based murders. It stands as a bold, watched experiment in the global pursuit of gender justice, where its true success will be measured not in downloads, but in the enhanced security of women across Uruguay.

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#gender-based violence

#Uruguay

#technology

#government initiative

#women's rights

#safety app

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