Story By: Angjela Trajkovska, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News
In 2011, around 300 women in the small town of Barbacoas in the south-western Colombian department of Narino decided to abstain from having sex with their other halves until the road was fixed.
They staged a huge protest and became known as the ‘Crossed Legs Movement’, fighting for their small community’s needs.
Protesters demanded that the government repair the only road that connects their small isolated town to the rest of the country.
They then invoked a ‘sex strike’, vowing to not make love with their partners.
The move led to the male half of town joining in with the protest, and the local authorities announced funds to fix the 57-kilometre (35-mile) road.
However, seven years later and 4.5 kilometres (2.7 miles) of the road has yet to be repaired.
Leader of the ‘Crossed Legs Movement’ Sonia Vera told local media that the process has been so ridiculously slow that she is afraid there will not be the resources to finish the job, which is expected to be concluded early next year.
Among many excuses, the authorities even blamed the weather.
However, the movement has promised to continue protesting.
According to local media, life in Barbacoas is expensive because poor road access has led to an increase in prices and not even emergency vehicles can reach the community in times of need.
The town’s struggle continues.