Politicsprotests & movements
Uruguay Deploys 'Élida 360' App as Digital Lifeline Against Gender Violence
Uruguay has launched a state-backed mobile application, Élida 360, creating a direct digital channel for victims to report breaches of restraining orders and other court-imposed measures in real-time. The app, named for Élida Pensado Graña, the nation's first female police officer, represents a critical step in using technology to address systemic gender-based violence amid rising femicide rates across Latin America.By enabling immediate documentation of an aggressor's violation, the system is designed to bypass bureaucratic inertia and prompt faster police intervention, potentially preventing escalation. However, advocates warn that the app's success is contingent on a robust ecosystem of institutional support, including adequate victim shelters, comprehensive responder training, and cultural shifts to address the root causes of abuse.Similar technological initiatives in Spain and Argentina offer promising parallels, yet challenges such as the digital divide in rural areas and the potential for technological misuse remain significant hurdles. The launch of Élida 360 thus positions Uruguay as a regional test case, probing whether a smartphone application can effectively supplement the long-term, multifaceted work required to ensure women's safety.
#gender-based violence
#Uruguay
#government app
#Élida 360
#restraining orders
#victims
#technology
#safety
#lead focus news
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