by Chester Thomas
by Chester Thomas
Photo: Proyecto Aldea Global
Domestic violence cases in Honduras are only now being investigated, despite laws passed in 1998. This is as a result of women standing up for their rights and demanding justice for those who have been abused. Local governments are also beginning to invest in providing services for women who have been abused. Proyecto Aldea Global (PAG – Project Global Village) is helping to improve the situation.
The current situation
In towns there are a few legal and counselling services available to victims of domestic violence, but in rural areas such assistance is limited. Women in rural areas who are abused have three options:
PAG’s response
Domestic violence continues to increase. Between 2003 and 2008 more than 84,000 cases were registered but only 20 per cent were investigated and resolved. Due to limited financial resources and personnel, PAG is only able to review approxi mately 800 cases a year. This has encouraged PAG to work alongside local churches and organisations to help them to reduce domestic violence.
PAG and its networks of female volunteers, are responding to four main problems:
The ‘Deborah programme’
PAG’s ‘Deborah programme’ seeks to improve the capacity of local civil society organisations to prevent abuse and to provide Christian care, counselling and legal protection to women who have been victims of violent abuse. The programme is managed by trained community personnel who work out of local government offices in six regions.
The future
Many local civil society organisations are keen to reduce domestic violence and gain equal rights for women. These groups want to be trained so that they can defend the rights of women. The ‘Deborah programme’ hopes to expand by training more local volunteer organisations so that they can counsel victims of domestic violence and provide legal assistance, especially where women’s rights have been affected. PAG also wants to improve co-ordination between authorities and civil society organisations to create more awareness locally and reduce domestic violence cases.
Women need to participate in local community organisations, such as action groups, police and schools, to improve respect for women and their legal rights. They also need to know their rights and use them to stop the vicious cycle of dependency in domestic violence cases. One way to do this is to teach school children about domestic violence as part of their education. This should start as early as possible, and should include education about their rights and the rights of their mothers.
Conclusion
Domestic violence is a problem that requires concen trated efforts by the church, civil society, local and national govern ment so that women in every country can have their rights respected and guaranteed.
Chester Thomas is the Director of Proyecto Aldea Global, Apartado 1149, Tegucigalpa DC, Honduras.
Email: pagcent@paghonduras.org
Web: http://www.paghonduras.org/
by Barry Coleman
This resource is from Footsteps 79
Ruth Alvarado, Director of AGAPE, describes how the focus of its work has changed. Tearfund partner AGAPE originally worked with children who were abused, providing a safe house in Lima. Over several years, staff realised that many of the children came from the same part of Lima – the slum area known as Huaycán – which has a high rate of sexual abuse and mistreatment. This area is the main route for migrants coming in from the east of Lima and is a place where the former guerrilla movement, ...
by Lyn Lusi.
by Joyce Vaghela.
Ruth Alvarado, Director of AGAPE, describes how the focus of its work has changed. Tearfund partner AGAPE originally worked with children who were abused, providing a safe house in Lima. Over several years, staff realised that many of the children came from the same part of Lima – the slum area known as Huaycán – which has a high rate of sexual abuse and mistreatment. This area is the main route for migrants coming in from the east of Lima and is a place where the former guerrilla movement, ...
by Lyn Lusi.
by Joyce Vaghela.
Ruth Alvarado, Director of AGAPE, describes how the focus of its work has changed. Tearfund partner AGAPE originally worked with children who were abused, providing a safe house in Lima. Over several years, staff realised that many of the children came from the same part of Lima – the slum area known as Huaycán – which has a high rate of sexual abuse and mistreatment. This area is the main route for migrants coming in from the east of Lima and is a place where the former guerrilla movement, ...
by Lyn Lusi.
by Joyce Vaghela.