Office of the Women’s Advocate launches campaign against dating violence

Women’s Advocate Astrid Piñeiro Vázquez

By THE STAR STAFF

The Office of the Women’s Advocate (OPM by its initials in Spanish) launched the educational campaign “That’s not LOVE #StopIt,” on Monday, aimed at raising awareness and preventing dating violence among young couples, with an emphasis on identifying controlling behaviors that are often normalized as expressions of affection.

“We must emphasize that jealousy is not a measure of the intensity of love, but a sign of insecurity and possessiveness that can escalate to extremely dangerous situations,” the OPM said in a written statement. “True love doesn’t hurt, doesn’t scare, and doesn’t limit.”

The campaign will be disseminated throughout February on social media and seeks to educate about patterns of psychological, economic and physical violence, including constant monitoring of social media, unauthorized checking of mobile phones and surveillance of digital interactions -- practices that violate privacy and personal autonomy.

Women’s Advocate Astrid Piñeiro Vázquez noted that the aforementioned behaviors affect the self-esteem and overall development of those who suffer from them, and stressed that control is not a manifestation of love, but rather a sign of abuse that requires early attention and guidance.

“When a person is forced to sacrifice their dreams, their financial freedom, or their right to decide about their own body to maintain peace in the relationship, we are facing a scenario of abuse that requires immediate intervention and a complete stop,” she stated.

The Office of the Women’s Advocate also urged people to be alert to social isolation, a tactic used to weaken the victim’s support network, and reiterated that consent is a non-negotiable pillar in any relationship. The agency maintains its guidance and assistance hotline available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 787-722-2977.