Women, Forces of Change | Mujeres, Fuerzas de Cambio

Growing up in a territory shaped by conflict, Arianna learned how violence can disconnect people from their own identity. Through her journey, she reclaims her voice, her community, and her river—showing how young women are rebuilding memory, dignity and peace from within their territories.

After surviving armed violence at just 14, Wendy rebuilt her life with strength and purpose. Today, she advocates for the rights of persons with disabilities and survivors, proving that even in the face of unimaginable loss, it is possible to transform pain into action—and change lives.

What does it mean to cross borders—not just geographic, but invisible ones shaped by violence and silence? Investigative journalist Pamela Huerta shares her journey into territories marked by organized crime, where telling the truth becomes both a risk and a responsibility.

A single moment changed everything. After witnessing the impact of online abuse, Gordina set out to ensure justice would never fail victims again. Her journey—from teacher to cybersecurity leader—is a powerful reminder that resilience, purpose and women’s leadership are essential to building a safer digital world.

We’re celebrating the fourteenth anniversary of the adoption of the UN resolution on women, disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control with a special episode featuring Maritza Chan Valverde, Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the UN, and Dennis Francis, Permanent Representative of Trinidad and Tobago to the UN, who, together with Soledad Urruela, Director of UNLIREC, share with us their own experiences and encouraging messages to young women.

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Celebramos el decimocuarto aniversario de la adopción de la resolución de la ONU sobre mujeres, desarme, no proliferación y control de armas con un episodio especial que cuenta con la participación de la Embajadora Maritza Chan Valverde, Representante Permanente de Costa Rica ante la ONU, y el Embajador Dennis Francis, Representante Permanente de Trinidad y Tobago ante la ONU, quienes, junto con Soledad Urruela, Directora de UNLIREC, comparten sus experiencias y mensajes alentadores para las mujeres jóvenes.

Dr. Elizabeth Ward, a medical epidemiologist with more than 15 years of experience in violence prevention. She established the Jamaica Injury Surveillance System (JISS), which collects critical data on gunshot wounds and supports multi-agency efforts to reduce violent crime. Dr. Ward works with organizations such as WHO, PAHO, and UNICEF, focusing on strategies to address violence against children.

In this episode, she shares her interest and expertise in safety and highlights the essential role of women in driving change. "I've seen in hospitals that gun violence can be prevented," she points out.

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Dra. Elizabeth Ward, epidemióloga médica con más de 15 años de experiencia en prevención de la violencia. Ella creó el Sistema de Vigilancia de Lesiones de Jamaica (JISS, por sus siglas en inglés), que recopila datos fundamentales sobre heridas de bala y apoya los esfuerzos de varios organismos para reducir los delitos violentos. La Dra. Ward colabora con organizaciones como la OMS, la OPS y UNICEF, centrándose en estrategias para abordar la violencia contra los niños.

En este episodio, ella comparte su interés y experiencia por la seguridad y destaca el papel esencial de las mujeres para impulsar el cambio. “He visto en los hospitales que la violencia con armas de fuego se puede prevenir”, señala.

[Available in Spanish] Ana Pamela Romero, a Juris doctor and criminalistics expert from Mexico. Over the past 16 years she has held several positions as a researcher, professor and, currently, national director of the Law Program at Tecnológico de Monterrey. Since 2014, she has worked as an expert consultant for UNLIREC in legal, forensic and gender perspective in the investigation of firearms crimes.

In this episode, she tells us about the path that led her from the field of justice to the field of peace and disarmament; in her own words, “we cannot think of justice without peace or peace without justice”.

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Ana Pamela Romero, doctora en derecho y perito en criminalística de México. En los últimos 16 años ha ocupado distintos puestos como investigadora, profesora y, actualmente, directora nacional del Programa de Derecho en el Tecnológico de Monterrey. Desde el 2014 se desempeña como consultora experta de UNLIREC en materia jurídica, forense y perspectiva de género en la investigación de delitos con armas de fuego.

En este episodio, Ana Pamela Romero nos cuenta el camino que la llevó del ámbito de la justicia al de la paz y el desarme; en sus propias palabras: “no podemos pensar en justicia sin paz ni en paz sin justicia”.

[Available in Spanish] Mayda De León is well known for her work on prevention of violence and arms control. With more than 20 years of experience, Mayda shares with us her journey, her commitment to human rights and her current leadership role as Vice Minister of Violence and Crime Prevention in Guatemala.

In this episode, Mayda De León tells us how, from a young age, she became interested in issues of justice, human rights and later in security, a field in which women were beginning to make their presence felt but which was still dominated by men.

“We women are powerful, and we are truly Forces of Change”, is Mayda's message to the new generations of women in security.

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Mayda De León, una referente en el trabajo de prevención de la violencia armada y control de armas. Con más de 20 años de experiencia, Mayda nos comparte su trayectoria, su compromiso con los derechos humanos y cómo, hoy en día, se encuentra liderando desde su rol como Viceministra de Prevención de la Violencia y el Delito en Guatemala.

En este episodio, Mayda De León nos cuenta cómo, desde joven, comenzó a interesarse por temas de justicia, derechos humanos y más adelante en la seguridad, un ámbito que ya empezaba a tener la presencia de mujeres, pero que seguía siendo dominado por hombres.

"Las mujeres somos poderosas y somos realmente fuerzas de cambio", es el mensaje de Mayda para las nuevas generaciones de mujeres en la seguridad.

[Available in Spanish] Juliana Aguiar, Brazilian journalist and human rights defender, shares with us her valuable testimony and her tireless work to give visibility to voices that have historically been silenced.

In this episode, Juliana Aguiar tells us how her interest in human rights led her to work at the Fogo Cruzado Institute, where she monitors violence in more than 50 Brazilian cities making visible the violence and gun policies that affect so many women.

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Juliana Aguiar, periodista brasileña y defensora de los derechos humanos, nos comparte su valioso testimonio y su trabajo incansable por dar visibilidad a las voces que han sido históricamente silenciadas.

En este episodio, Juliana Aguiar nos cuenta cómo su interés por los Derechos Humanos la llevó a trabajar en el Instituto Fogo Cruzado, donde monitorea la violencia en más de 50 ciudades brasileñas visibilizando la violencia y las políticas de armas que afectan a tantas mujeres.

[Available in French] Kettly Julien is the Executive Director of the Institut Mobile d'Éducation Démocratique (IMED) and active member of the National Commission for Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (CNDDR) of Haiti.

In this episode, she tells us how she has overcome challenges since her childhood and turned her fears into strengths to fight for social justice and human rights. She also shares how her work has contributed to the pacification of communities in Haití.

“Haitian society is patriarchal, and women face great obstacles, but we must fight for equality, shoulder to shoulder with men, without sexism.”

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Kettly Julien es la Directora Ejecutiva del Institut Mobile d’Éducation Démocratique (IMED) y miembro activo de la Comisión Nacional de Desarme, Desmovilización y Reintegración (CNDDR) de Haití.

En este episodio ella nos cuenta cómo ha superado desafíos y ha transformado sus miedos en fuerzas para luchar por la justicia social y los derechos humanos. También narra cómo su trabajo contribuyó a la pacificación de comunidades en Haití.

"La sociedad haitiana es patriarcal, y las mujeres enfrentan grandes obstáculos, pero debemos luchar por la igualdad, hombro con hombro con los hombres, sin sexismo."