Poderosa
In Barú, Bogotá and Cali, Colombia, where sexual violence is normalized, we dive into the challenging journey taken on by the powerful protagonists who dare to recognize their autonomy and defend their sexual and reproductive rights. They will tell their story through a letter of love and hope for a new future.
About the film
Poderosa reveals the impact access to comprehensive sexual education has had on young people from vulnerable populations in Bogata, Baru, and Cali, Colombia. The protagonists take us on a heroic journey through their inner and outer worlds by narrating a letter that captures their emotional biography; their fears, joys, reflections and challenges, as we dive into the texture of the bodies and the nature in which they live. This story is designed to allow the audience to draw parallels between the experiences and lives of our protagonists and their own.
Why this project?
In Colombia, the legal age of consent is 14 years old.
In 2020, there were more than 13,000 reported cases of sexual violence against girls under the age of 18, and that doesn’t include the countless number of cases that went unreported.
A 2019 report found that rape in the country has tripled since 1999, with 87% of those victims being minors.
These statistics provide a superficial look at the systemic sexual violence problem that is perpetuated by the lack of reproductive health education in Colombia. While abortions of up to 24 weeks were recently decriminalized in 2022, there is still so much work to be done to protect all peoples’ rights and access to reproductive healthcare and education. The Poderosas featured in this film are willing to take major risks to ensure that future generations are able to know their rights and have access to the resources they are entitled to in these tough circumstances.
About Poderosas
Poderosas is an NGO that provides comprehensive sexual education (EIS) to strengthen the decision-making capacity for young people between 12 and 20 years of age. “Poderosas” means “women who are full of power; forceful, capable, formidable.” Poderosas works within vulnerable communities across Colombia to unleash the power of young people to make educated choices in the difficult situations they will likely face throughout their lifetime. Poderosas offers an education program with an innovative and experiential methodology for young people to learn about their bodies, sexual and reproductive rights, gender-based violence, and how to exercise leadership for gender equality.