Survivors of violence that support victims

A Women's Circle is a space to give us that time of connection with a coincidence that seems almost impossible to achieve in today's society in which the rush, stress and mask of the "super woman" prevail.

It is not just an agreed meeting of friends who come together to talk about their things. It is a decision and a personal experience in which each woman faces in a mirror, through her eyes, with another in essence, without labels or labels with that uniqueness that is recognized, without hierarchies.

It was made on July 8

The images speak for themselves.

In the previous report, we told you that although we have not reached 9% of the resources necessary for the execution of this project, even without economic resources, but with a very high spirit of commitment we have advanced in the attention of at least 8 more women

In this report, we want to emphasize how, through our legal campaigning, we have managed to find justice for 2 cases in which the rights of women and girls have been seriously violated.

• The first refers to the femicide of Meibi Lozano. Last April 25, Idea Dignidad represented the mother of the victim and achieved the judicial decision by which the sentence of 26 years of deprivation of liberty for the femicide of Meibi, a 23-year-old indigenous woman of nationality, was ratified. Indigenous of the Saraguro people, who was murdered in Riobamba on May 1, 2017, by her ex-partner, Denis Adrián, 28 years old. Although in this case the use of indigenous justice was controversial, the rights of the victims were prevailed. See more information in the link.·        
• The second case is that of the 6-year-old E.M.C.T girl who was the victim of sexual abuse together with her classmates by her teacher at the 11 de Octubre School in the north-west of the city of Quito. Through the representation of Idea Dignidad it has been achieved that in this case, the girl's sexual aggressor is sentenced to a sentence of 16 years and the girl and her family repaired by the educational institution. See more information in the link.·        
• And the last case we want to refer to is that of the 8 year old girl J.G.V.G sexually abused together with her aunts (also minors), by her stepfather. Also in this case, through the legal support of Idea Dignidad, the Rights Protection Board of the Quitumbe sector in the south of the city of Quuito issued, among others, the following protection measures: a) distancing from the aggressor and prohibition from continuing to exercise violence, intimidation or, threats, b) to the school where the girl JGVG and her brothers study and follow up the school performance, c) and the institutional programs All Life and the Special Protection Service provide psychological and social support to the mother and all the minors to overcome the different situations of violence. 

It is so with and without resources, we will not cease in our task of protecting girls and women victims of violence. To those who have believed in us and in our work, thank you!

Links:

• Link de justicia para Meibi
• https://www.ideadignidad.org/casos/femicidio-de-meibi-lozano-andrade
• Video casos ninas Escuela 11 de Octubre, nor occidente de Quito.

Idea Dignity, with the support of the community, Globa Giving has continued the development of its processes of legal and psychosocial accompaniment to people in situations of violence or discrimination, of which 90 percent are women and girls.

Although to date, the survivors of violence project that supports victims, has only collected 7 percent of the total budget required for its execution; from its beginning in January 2019 until today, it has been possible to continue providing psychosocial support to 15 people, of which 8 are women who have survived situations of gender-based violence (one of them sexual violence). This same accompaniment, it has been possible to give it to 2 adolescents, 2 girls and 3 children, children of the women who receive attention.

With this type of accompaniment the Foundation develops a model of Person Centered Care and specialized in victims of violence, which develops 4 pillars or objectives:

• Equality and Non-Discrimination
• Restitution of rights
• Resilience
• Autonomy and Empowerment

In general, each of these women, girls, boys or adolescents participate in a weekly support session in which the accompanying professional develops mainly active listening that allows victims to narrate their experiences of violence and feel validated and welcomed; which represents the first step to become aware of the violation experienced.

During the sessions, corporal integration and art therapy exercises are also developed, through which survivors can express themselves and create new experiences. We mainly work on aspects such as self-esteem, mourning, recognition of emotions and empowerment. Currently the professionales are preparing the realization of the first support group that will take place in the month of March.