A group of indigenous rarámuri women in Sierra Tarahumara, north of Mexico, have launched a campaign to stop the increasing violence they face daily, which in many cases is culturally accepted in their communities and involves physical, verbal, psychological and sexual aggression.

They are known as “las multiplicadoras” (“the multipliers”) and their mission is to raise consciousness by educating men and women from the mountains of Chihuahua to reverse the pattern of abuse, program coordinator Vianney Salas said in an interview with Univision’s “Primer Impacto.”

“They come out different,” Salas said. “They come out of this program understanding the right to have a life free of violence.”

According to various studies, it is estimated that 90 percent of women in these communities have suffered some form of violence.

“I thought it was normal to be worth less than men,” an indigenous woman said on the Univisión show. “I understand now that I have rights.”

General director of the Chihuahua Women’s Institute, Emma Lobera Saldaña said rarámuri women are being trained in violence prevention in over 30 different communities in the Sierra Tarahumara, and have more than 15 Tarahumaran volunteers dedicated to help increase knowledge about these issues among other females.

Meanwhile, the International Indigenous Women’s Forum has worked since 1999 with indigenous women leaders representing Asia, Central America, South America, the Caribbean, Africa, North America, Europe and the Pacific regions to stop the growth of this phenomenon.

The organization’s international work is based on the deep conviction of the need to coordinate and integrate strategies for the advancement of human rights of indigenous women locally, nationally and worldwide.

In Mexico, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) warned the issue of violence begins in childhood and in adulthood may result in prostitution, drug trafficking, suicide, school dropout, teenage mothers and other problems.

Mexican government figures revealed that in 2010 at least 329 girls under 18 were killed, one of the highest numbers in a decade. In 2011 approximately 693 girls went to prison for federal crimes, a figure that doubled since 2010. Some 34.6 percent of those criminal cases involved drug possession and consumption.

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  • In this photo taken on Thursday Jan. 26, 2012, a Tarahumara Indian woman and her child watch as private aid is distributed in Laguna de Aboreachi, Mexico.

    (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills)

  • In this photo taken on Thursday Jan. 26, 2012, a Tarahumara Indian woman sits by food and used clothes donated by civil society during their distribution in Laguna de Aboreachi, Mexico.

    (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills)

  • In this photo taken on Thursday Jan. 26, 2012, a Tarahumara Indian woman carries her child as they leave after the distribution of private aid in Laguna de Aboreachi, Mexico.

    (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills)

  • In this photo taken on Thursday Jan. 26, 2012, Tarahumara indigenous women sift through used clothes donated by private donors in Laguna de Aboreachi, Mexico. Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012.

    (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills)

  • In this photo taken on Thursday Jan. 26, 2012, a woman, left, watches as an Tarahumara Indian woman and her husband wait for private aid being distributed in Laguna de Aboreachi, Mexico.

    (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills)

  • In this photo taken on Thursday Jan. 26, 2012, Tarahumara indigenous women line up as private donations of food and used clothing are distributed in Laguna de Aboreachi, Mexico.

    (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills)

  • An indian of the Tarahumara Mountains, northern Mexico, participates in a caravan for help in Mexico City, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012.

    (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

  • An indian of the Tarahumara Mountains, northern Mexico, participates in a caravan for help in Mexico City, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012.

    (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

  • An indian of the Tarahumara Mountains, northern Mexico, participates in a caravan for help in Mexico City, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012.

    (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

  • An indian of the Tarahumara Mountains, northern Mexico, participates in a caravan for help in Mexico City, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012.

    (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

  • Raramuri indians of the Tarahumara Mountains prepare to head for a food distribution in the town of Huisarorare, northern Mexico, Thursday Jan. 19, 2012.

    (AP Photo/Raymundo Ruiz)

  • Raramuri indian Juan Rodriguez, right, of the Tarahumara Mountains watches as his children eat in the town of Huisarorare, northern Mexico, Thursday Jan. 19, 2012.

    (AP Photo/Raymundo Ruiz)

  • Raramuri indians of the Tarahumara Mountains sit by the side of a road near the town of Huisarorare, northern Mexico, Thursday Jan. 19, 2012.

    (AP Photo/Raymundo Ruiz)

  • A Raramuri Indian woman of the Tarahumara Mountains waits to have her children treated at a clinic in the town of Carichi, northern Mexico, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012.

    (AP Photo/Raymundo Ruiz)

  • Young Raramuri Indians of the Tarahumara Mountains play by the side of a road in the town of Carichi, northern Mexico Jan. 18, 2012.

    (AP Photo/Raymundo Ruiz)

  • Raramuri Indians of the Tarahumara Mountains walk away in the town of Carichi, northern Mexico, Jan. 18, 2012.

    (AP Photo/Raymundo Ruiz)

  • In this photo taken on Nov. 10, 2011, a Tarahumara woman poses while selling good in front of the Posada Barrancas Mirador hotel in Divisadero, Mexico.

    (AP Photo/Lisa J. Adams)

  • In this photo taken on Nov. 9, 2011, Tarahumara women are seen peddling goods to passengers of El Chepe.

    (AP Photo Lisa J. Adams)