The influence and control of women and girls over decisions governing their lives, health and bodies is a permanent gender issue. Inequalities due to socio-economic conditions, race and living in rural areas with poor access to transportation in women and girls of our communities are rising. Our response to this overwhelming truth is to focus on direct services, education, and advocacy in sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence.
Since 2017, 43 women have been killed in domestic violence-related cases. Our program provides the only accessible prevention and intervention services for survivors on the east coast of Puerto Rico and, in Loiza -the municipality where we're located- 53% of residents are women, 49.6% of them living under the poverty line, 29.6% of household are led by females; more than 50% are unemployed and 78% consider themselves non-white.
Our program will provide individual and group psychological services for survivors and secondary victims of gender-based violence, workshops and training in leadership, sexual and reproductive health and rights, access to prevention and screening services in STIs, emergency contraceptives, pregnancy screening, and referrals.
Through this project, we aim to expand our capacity to respond to gender-based violence with culturally-relevant services that are rooted in trauma resolution, safety protections, and education. The present situation of economic vulnerability, and lack of possibilities of development for the women in our communities needs of our greater effort and support.
