Femicide, an extreme form of gender violence in which women are targeted and killed because of their gender, is extremely prevalent in Latin America. Historically, religion has inspired sweeping movements towards democracy and social justice in Latin America. As successful as religious actors have been in pushing Latin America towards democracy, justice, and human rights, issues of gender inequality seem to have been left behind. I examine the prevalence of gender inequality in Latin America, where the current policies and religious attitudes fall short, and how this cause can draw on successful Catholic human rights movements to create a framework that may be able to increase policy effectiveness in the region.
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