Girlfriends and wives of gang members in the city of Pereira, Columbia, are refusing to have sex with their partners in an effort to put an end to crime and violence.

The women are calling it the "crossed legs" strike. They have recorded a song encouraging other women to join in and it's being played on local radio.

Mayor's office representative Julio Cesar Gomez tells Reuters the women came into the mayor's office to talk about a disarmament.

He explains, "We met with the wives and girlfriends of gang members and they were worried some were not handing over their guns and that is where they came up with the idea of a vigil or a sex strike.

"The message they are giving them is disarm or if not then they will decide how, when, where and at what time."

Gomez says 480 killings were reported in Pereira last year.