PIP lawmaker assails confirmation process, appointment of women’s advocate

Puerto Rican Independence Party Rep. Adriana Gutiérrez Colón, foreground center

By The Star Staff

Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP) Rep. Adriana Gutiérrez Colón, who serves as the party’s secretary of women’s and gender affairs, expressed her condemnation Tuesday of the confirmation of Attorney Astrid Piñeiro Vázquez as women’s advocate, joining various feminist leaders and organizations who have expressed similar concerns.

“With the approval of this appointment, the governor [Jenniffer González Colón] failed to meet the imperative requirement that the person occupying the Women’s Advocate Office have an impeccable record in promoting gender equality and combating sexist violence, as established by the law that enables the Office of the Women’s Advocate,” Gutiérrez Colón said.

The alternate minority leader for the PIP in the island House of Representatives added that “the lack of experience and track record in gender issues and the absence of support from various feminist organizations, who were not consulted on this appointment, make it impossible to establish support for it.” She also questioned the legislative process, as the appointment “was confirmed without prior notice, without public hearings, without consultation, and backed by a very poor positive report.”

Prior to the statements by the PIP legislator, various human rights groups expressed their discontent with the appointment, arguing that they were not consulted nor were candidates considered with a proven commitment to the fight for gender equality.

“We are facing a 10-year confirmation of a position, without women and the country knowing what their positions are on fundamental issues that affect us, such as abortion, femicide, gender perspective, wage inequality, obstetric violence, and their relationship with shelters that serve women and their families,” Gutiérrez Colón said.