Talking about violence against women

Agueda Ordeñana (IF'10, Nicaragua) on July 10th, 2012

This weekend I had the opportunity to share some time with Vanessa Siezar ILEAP fellow of the generation of 2011 and so she is my ILEAP sister. After recalling crucial aspects of the program could not help but be filled with emotion when she told me how much people had impacted my words when I had the opportunity to be the speaker of thousands of Central American women at breakfast Women in the world hosted by the Seattle International foundation.

This happened almost two years ago and in my context I can to see with sadness that many things still remain the same. Thousands of women are victims of violence, girls raped and pregnant women, femicide. …. Until when I asked?

Undeniably, the role of women in the economy of nations. Their role in combating poverty, hunger and plaintiff in promoting truly sustainable development. These events united nations recognized this when considering the Millennium Development Goals. But by mid 2012 women and girls continue at a disadvantage.

The Millennium Declaration states the promotion of gender equality and empower women as effective ways to combat poverty. But eradicating violence against women is a persistent challenge. An abused woman, an abused woman cannot produce its full potential, is limited by the abuse that a victim and usually silent for fear of their abuser.

It is time to redouble efforts and promote development processes focused on the freedom of individuals to ensure their welfare.

In Nicaragua recently passed the Comprehensive Law against violence against women. The organizations we work for this cause we celebrate with joy your approval and that the purpose of it is acting against the violence perpetrated against women protect their rights and guarantee a life free of violence.

The law is not perfect and will not eliminate the abuse, but is expected to establish a legal framework to protect women and punish those who practice any kind of abuse in the context of unequal relations.

It overwhelms the historical trend of the Nicaraguan state of lack of funds to implement the laws passed no longer a concern. Media is required to regulate and ensure the implementation of it. If the laws are not known and do not apply, there are more than ink on paper.

The time is right to disseminate the law, study it and analyze it to make women aware of the scope and practical application.

In Nicaragua, many civil society organizations who struggle and support women victims of violence are suppressed and many others have had to close their doors for lack of economic resources. The cooperation is far from our country, countries like Sweden, Holland, Finland and others have already made public his retirement due to lack of transparency in the electoral process.

Many leaders of nongovernmental organizations including cooperatives leaders perform volunteer work in this direction, but this is not enough. We need the support and resources to continue this fight.

We require continuing education processes, leading to form communities and break cultural patterns based on gender violence. To build, first build. Is needed to promote the construction of a new masculinity based on respect and tolerance.

Invest in new generations; children of today are the men and women of tomorrow. Let us form women and men with principles and values so that they build a society free of violence and where the inequalities between the sexes are a reality.