Violence against women has a fundamental way of upholding inequality. Women’s movements have made the struggle to end violence a main priority and as a result, they are frequently attacked and harassed by powerful groups that benefit from the oppression of women. JASS Mesoamerica joins the global 16 days of activism against gender violence campaign, spotlighting the violence suffered by women human rights defenders in Mexico and Central America fueled by militarization and authoritarian practices that limit women's rights.