Girls, Not Mothers

Creativity and communication celebrate a victory that transcends performance metrics: the United Nations has ruled against Ecuador and Nicaragua for forcing three girls—Norma, Lucía, and Susana—into motherhood after surviving sexual violence. This landmark decision compels these nations to reform their laws and pave the way for justice for girls in over 170 countries.Behind this victory lies the relentless work of women, organizations, and collectives who have fought in legal, political, and social arenas.

"At Planta, the creative communication agency behind the 'Girls, Not Mothers' movement, we have dedicated all our creativity to this cause. But it is these women who gave everything: the courage to speak out, the support for survivor girls, and their tireless fight for rights," said GiGi Gutierrez, CEO and Founder of Planta.

Since 2021, Planta has spearheaded the strategy and dissemination of this campaign in a hostile digital environment where platform algorithms often suppress messages about reproductive rights. In partnership with leading human rights and sexual and reproductive health organizations such as Planned Parenthood Global, the Center for Reproductive Rights, Surkuna (Ecuador), Women Transforming the World (Guatemala), and Promsex (Peru), they have navigated unprecedented challenges in digital communication, circumventing restrictions to amplify the voices of survivors and shed light on the dire situation in Latin America—a region with the highest rate of pregnancies in girls under 15 resulting from sexual violence.

"Throughout this journey, we have witnessed the unwavering commitment of women leading this fight, including Catalina Martínez Coral, Regional Vice President of the Center for Reproductive Rights, and Marianny Sánchez, Communications Director at Planned Parenthood Global, among many others who work tirelessly to ensure no girl is forced into motherhood. Our team, with Gabriela de Alba, Marta Edeso, Natalia Ciraolo, Lucía Rojo, Mario Alvarez, Camila Corado, Maria Fernanda Venegas, and Nicolás Ibarra Angotzi, has also played a vital role," added GiGi Gutierrez.

This ruling marks a milestone for justice and a call to action for the advertising industry. Communication is not neutral. Agencies, brands, and creatives have the power and responsibility to decide which stories to tell, which injustices to highlight, and what change to advocate for.

"As a communicator, I want to send a clear message to my colleagues who strive for results every day: today, we are witnessing a historic decision that impacts millions of girls worldwide. These decisions are not just legal advancements; they are a testament to the transformative power of communication. Creativity in service of justice is a powerful tool. And when combined with the courage of those who speak out, support, and sustain, the results are positive. Change is collective, even when platforms do not support us. And it has become increasingly clear that they won't," concluded GiGi Gutierrez.

The Results
Based on the cases of Norma, Lucía, and Susana, and addressing a systemic problem in Latin America, the UN Human Rights Committee established groundbreaking measures to be implemented globally. The most notable are:

Amending legislation to ensure safe, legal, and effective access to voluntary termination of pregnancy, especially in cases involving severe suffering, such as pregnancies resulting from sexual violence or those posing risks to life or health. This includes comprehensive health services and the removal of access barriers.
Taking action to combat sexual violence across all sectors, including education and awareness campaigns to prevent, address, and prosecute these cases, along with providing comprehensive reparations for survivors.

Training healthcare professionals and justice operators on comprehensive care in cases of sexual violence, ensuring effective measures when there is a history of prior assaults.

Providing individual reparations, such as compensation for survivors, support for resuming their education, psychological counseling, and other measures that help them rebuild their lives and achieve their educational, professional, and personal goals previously disrupted by forced motherhood.