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Towards a life free from violence In the Dominican Republic in the 1930’s three brave and symbolic women, Minerva, Patria, and Maria Teresa Mirabal, fought to the death against the totalitarian Trujillo regime to defend the ideals of liberty and justice. Today in Mexico, many women have become sisters and compañeras in solidarity with the same cause. They know that violence is always a potential danger, particularly in the home, and they work to eradicate it. The Mirabal Sisters’ Center for Human Rights was founded in 2004 in Guanajuato; its mission is to offer legal and psychological support to women who are in situations of domestic violence. General Coordinator Karina Torres Belmont, a civil lawyer and penal specialist in family law, is a passionate defender of women’s rights. Thanks to its human rights project, funded by Semillas, the Center helped 122 women: adults, adolescents and girls. These women received 86 counseling sessions, participated in non-violence workshops, and became members of therapeutic support groups. In addition, 70 women received legal consultation and 38 began some sort of judicial procedure. According to Karina, “When the women participate in the therapy process in the Center, we see a 180 degree change in them. They become more secure about their rights and are more capable of putting limits on the violence in their lives.” Lourdes, a woman that came to the Center, tells her story: “I thought I lived a ‘normal’ life. However, I was a victim of violence. At night I was sexually abused by my husband. He told me that I was useless, not worth anything as a woman. When we went out I couldn’t turn to look at anybody because it started a problem. Sometimes he even raised a hand to me. Thanks to the Mirabal Sisters’ Center, I understood that a relationship like that isn’t ‘normal.’ I discovered how important I am as a woman. Now I know that I can defend myself, demand my rights and remove myself from danger. I know that I am not alone.” Sustainable Work “Semillas has also helped to make our work more sustainable. It was the only organization that believed in us and gave us the funding when we were in our initial stages. Semillas is a great chain that unites women who are concerned about the defense of human rights and are supportive of social change. Besides funding projects, Semillas has trained members of our team in local fundraising, which guarantees that we can continue our work,” asserts Karina. |
