DWC 100 Women: Geraldina Guerra Garcés, Not One Woman Less

Geraldina Guerra Garcés is an advocate against femicide in Ecuador, who has channelled her pain into a powerful movement, one that seeks to end the cycle of violence that has claimed the lives of so many women and girls in her country.

Her activism was born out of grief and love—emotions that drive her to speak out when others cannot. She founded the Aldea Foundation and co-founded the National Feminist Alliance against Gender Violence to create safe spaces for women to tell their stories and seek justice. Her work goes beyond statistics and headlines; it’s about humanising every victim, honouring their lives, and advocating for meaningful change in a society that too often fails to protect its most vulnerable.

One of her greatest challenges has been confronting a system entrenched in indifference and discrimination. In Ecuador, as in many places around the world, justice for victims of femicide is rare, and the road to it is fraught with bureaucratic obstacles, victim-blaming, and deep-rooted societal norms that prioritise silence over accountability. Despite these immense hurdles, Geraldina refuses to be silenced. She has courageously faced threats, intimidation, and backlash from those who wish to maintain the status quo.

Geraldina’s fight is not just against individual perpetrators; it is against a culture of impunity. She has spent years calling for stronger legislation, better enforcement of existing laws, and a societal shift that recognises the severity and urgency of gender-based violence. Her activism is seen not only in her words but in her actions—campaigning on the streets, supporting families, and engaging with policymakers to ensure that no other woman is reduced to a statistic.

Through her work, Geraldina has transformed sorrow into solidarity. She provides support and guidance to families shattered by loss, helping them navigate a legal system that often re-traumatizes rather than helps. She empowers these families to become advocates in their own right, building a collective voice too loud to ignore. By turning individual tragedies into a collective outcry, Geraldina is forcing a reluctant society to listen and act.

Her initiatives, like the annual marches and educational campaigns, are aimed at raising awareness and pressuring the government to adopt more comprehensive measures to prevent femicide. One of her most impactful campaigns, “Ni Una Menos” (Not One [Woman] Less), has galvanised thousands of people across Ecuador to demand an end to gender-based violence. It is a movement that calls for nothing less than justice, dignity, and the right for women to live free from fear.

She has been targeted by smear campaigns, received threats, and encountered institutional resistance. Yet, she remains steadfast, driven by the memory of those lost and the belief that change is possible. Geraldina knows that every small victory is a step toward a larger goal—the hope that one day, no family will have to mourn the loss of a daughter, sister, or mother to femicide.