Successful Virtual
Thanks to the generous support of recognized artists such as Iola Benton, Marisa Boullosa, Sergio Bustamante, Martha Chapa, Maru Vázquez, Nunik Sauret, and others, Semillas organized a virtual art auction that raised $5,600 (U.S.) for its grantmaking fund for social investment in women. In spite of the fact that this type of virtual auction is infrequent in our country, the initiative was highly successful. In fact, other civil society organizations have approached Semillas to find out about the process and learn from the experience. Fifteen of the sixteen works of art that were auctioned in the on-line catalogue were sold and 30 people enthusiastically participated, some with more than one bid. Semillas thanks and celebrates the participation of artists and buyers. Welcome Semillas gives a warm welcome to our new donors in Mexico and the United States: Thank you for your generous participation in the art auction: Alfredo Gandur |
In this Issue
Human Rights
are not on Trial First, young girls that were in prison were empowered through the project, “Growing in Freedom”. Now, with the follow-up project,“The Key,” Semillas is helping to ensure that incarcerated women in Chiapas have access to justice in their daily lives.
“The Key” is a project that the organizations Chiltak and DIFA carry out in Prison # 5 in San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas. The project’s objective is for incarcerated women to learn to exercise their human rights in their daily lives. The members of Chiltak and DIFA offer workshops on gender, sexuality, human rights, and topics relevant to the lives of the 67 incarcerated women. More than 20 have systematically participated in this training and half of them have recognized that their human rights were violated even before entering the prison. These women are most interested in the topics of gender-based violence and violence among women. The greatest concern for women living in jail is the discrimination and stigmatization. In this framework, Chiltak and DIFA work to inform women about their rights; the promotion, appropriation, and the exercise of their rights while inside the jail is fundamental. The women in the prison also have learned to identify and reflect on the situations that brought them to jail, like spousal homicide as a reaction to domestic violence or stealing as a means of survival. “The impact of the project is surprising even for us. For example, we have begun an initiative to work with men in another prison based on ideas that the women have generated,” says Guadalupe Gil of Chiltak. In 2005, Semillas supported the project that preceded “The Key.” This project, “Growing in Freedom,” took place in the Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Underage Offenders in Villa Crisol, Chiapas. Forty-seven adolescents came up with the idea for an intervention with the male population in Villa Crisol and they suggested the topics that the workshops should cover.
“After the project had ended DIFA continued to offer psychological and legal support to the young women? in addition to workshops for men on violence prevention,” explains Guadalupe. “For Chiltak and DIFA, the work continues to be satisfying and it represents a significant challenge. We believe that working with women in jail should be a priority in the quest for gender equity in all the legal, social and cultural dimensions of our country,” Guadalupe concludes. .
“To consciously donate is to participate. A county such as ours, where the State never fulfills its obligations, makes citizen participation in civil organizations compelling. As a woman, as a mother and as a citizen, I believe that my actions can make a small change when they are added to others. Semillas captivated me…I found in it a familiar place, with women that immediately share similar understandings.” Mónica González Dillon |
Photography courtesy of Lucero González Please feel free to forward this bulletin to a friend! |
