The Puerto Rican government has declared a state of emergency as leaders address gender violence on the island

• The Puerto Rican government declared a state of emergency until June 2022 as leaders address gender violence on the island.
• Gov. Pedro R. Pierluisi signed an executive order Sunday "to establish, improve and execute protection against gender violence."
• An app that helps victims of gender violence request emergency help is also in the works.

The Puerto Rican government declared a state of emergency until June 2022 as leaders address gender violence on the island.

Governor Pedro R. Pierluisi signed an executive order Sunday "to establish, improve and execute protection, against gender violence."

He also plans to create the Committee for the Prevention, Support, Rescue and Education of Gender Violence (PARE) with its members providing services to people affected by domestic violence.

"For too long, vulnerable victims have suffered the consequences of systematic machismo, inequity, discrimination, lack of education, lack of guidance, and above all, lack of action," said Pierluisi in the order. "It is my duty and my commitment as governor to establish a STOP to gender violence."

An app that helps victims of gender violence request emergency help is also in the works, according to the governor's executive order.

"To eradicate gender violence we have to make concerted efforts between the state and society," said Pierluisi. "Equity between boys and girls, men and women is key to achieving the Puerto Rico without gender violence that we all want."

There were 37 femicides on the island during the first nine months of 2020, according to a report from Puerto Rico's Gender Equality Observatory.

The rate of gender violence is on the rise in Puerto Rico, but not just for women.

The death of a transgender man in Puerto Rico sparked outrage in the local LGBT+ community.

The Human Rights Campaign reports that at least 12 LGBTQ people in Puerto Rico have been violently killed since the beginning of 2019.

"All violence is reprehensible, and we have to fight it relentlessly," the governor said. "Gender violence is a social evil, based on ignorance and attitudes that cannot have space or tolerance in the Puerto Rico we aspire to."