The Ministry of Public Education (MEP) is hosting the international exhibition “What Were You Wearing?” in the common areas of its offices at Torre Mercedes from November 13 to December 15, 2025. The initiative originates from the Center for Education and Prevention of Sexual Violence at the University of Kansas in the United States and is inspired by Dr. Mary Simmerling’s poem “What I Was Wearing?”.
According to MEP, these initiatives aim to raise awareness and educate about myths and prejudices surrounding sexual violence. The goal is to increase understanding about sexual violence and address the issue of blaming survivors based on their clothing choices.
The exhibition features replicas of outfits worn by survivors during incidents of sexual assault, accompanied by excerpts from testimonies provided by individuals who have chosen to share their experiences. Testimonies from Costa Rica are included alongside educational materials on human rights, crime prevention, and additional support tools such as an audio guide.
This year, the exhibition will also be presented at the central offices of MEP, the Social Sciences Building at the University of Costa Rica (UCR) in San Pedro, and Tecnológico Costarricense (TEC) in Cartago. In 2026, it will expand to other educational institutions across Costa Rica.
The Ministry states that it has a responsibility “to prevent, detect, and refer any situation involving violence,” as well as “to learn how to identify discriminatory attitudes, prejudices, and gender biases.”
For more information about the exhibition or participation details, interested parties can visit www.quellevabaspuesto.com or contact [email protected].
