This week we will be discussing some news of a distant nation, Colombia. While this country is far geographically, it is actually very close to my heart. I am Colombian, and my family immigrated from Colombia to the United States in the late 1990s. My mom, specifically, came when she was 15 years old and lived in Atlantic City, NJ. There, she graduated from Atlantic City High School and went to college, so she is a major role model in my life because of her perseverance and dedication.

The topic I will be diving into today is a new system that has been put into place in Bogota, Colombia’s capital city. The system consists of a hotline where men over the age of 18 can call a hotline, the Calm Line, and they speak to a team of psychologists. Men can call if they are experiencing various types of emotional problems, such as family or relationship issues, financial hardships, anger management, and more.  Another major focus of the hotline is the effort to combat domestic violence and verbal violence within relationships.

According to data presented in the New York Times, a woman in Colombia is sexually assaulted every 34 minutes. Additionally, women are less likely to seek help, such as calling the police, because of multiple reasons. In the United States, there are many efforts made by local governments to protect victims of domestic violence when cases are reported. Victims can seek temporary restraining orders and there are better ways to protect themselves than there are in Colombia. The policing system in Colombia is very corrupt, and sometimes officers would prefer to stand clear of harm out of fear that a perpetrator may harm them. This causes unease in the country, especially in lower-income areas or communities controlled by drug traffickers. Also, because there is so much drug and gun activity throughout the country, a person may fear for their life if they were to tell on their abuser.

As a result of these factors, the government put into place The Calm Line. The hotline is available at certain hours from Monday to Saturday, and the services will be available free of charge. The team of psychologists will help men who are seeking help by discussing their concerns with them, guiding them for the future, and giving them different coping mechanisms to assist them with their troubles. Also, the therapists will be following up with the men who have called to see what effects the hotline had on them and/or if they need any further care.

There are many hotlines like The Calm Line in the United States. The American Psychological Association has a list outlining the numbers available for all types of concerns. These hotlines are typically free of charge and available 24/7. They are also available all throughout the nation, in comparison to the Calm Line that is only available in Bogota as of right now. What are your thoughts on this hotline? Do you think it is actually going to combat the issue of domestic violence and sexual assault in Colombia, or is it too vague of an approach?