When
Where
Center for Latin American Studies, Spring 2025 Charlas con Café – a weekly space to hear lectures from a wide variety of experts and discuss topics relevant to the Latin American region, Fridays from 1-2 pm (unless otherwise specified). Coffee & snacks at 12:30pm!
In conflict zones, gender-based violence by non-state armed actors is often used as a strategic tool of violence. How can local authorities mitigate the incidence of gender-based violence? This research investigates the effect of local female mayors on the regulation against women and the prevalence of sexual violence perpetrated by a variety of non-state armed actors. Using a sharp regression discontinuity design modeling close electoral victory of female candidates in Colombia between 1998 and 2017, results find that female mayors decrease the regulation of women and the use of sexual violence by different types of armed actors including paramilitaries, insurgents, and criminals. Potential mechanisms suggest an heterogenous effect of ideological alignment in which right-wing paramilitaries are more responsive to right-wing female mayors. In addition, female mayors also curb down sexual violence in territories controlled by paramilitaries and insurgents.
Presenter: Dr. Javier Osorio, Assistant Professor, School of Government and Public Policy
Javier Osorio is an Assistant Professor in the School of Government and Public Policy. His research analyzes the micro-foundations and dynamics of political and criminal violence with particular focus in Latin America. To address this agenda, Dr. Osorio uses a broad range of quantitative methods including natural language processing, quasi-experimental and experimental techniques, geographic information systems, and big data analytics.