Women knit lives free of violence

Women knitting lives free

of violence

To guarantee the economic protection and autonomy of women and girls in vulnerable situations and/or who have suffered gender-based violence.

This is a communitarian project designed to strengthen the protection and means of subsistence of women and girls. It is a binational project implemented by CARE Guatemala and CARE Honduras, in coordination with the CICAM (Center for Research, Training and Support for Women), the Teaching Institute for Sustainable Development (IEPADES), the Mennonite Social Action Commission (CASM), the Center of Excellence for Mental Health (CEMH), and UN Women; in addition, the project had the financial support of the U.S. Agency for International Development through their Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (USAID).

General overview of Guatemala

In Guatemala, women and girls are exposed to different forms and manifestations of gender-based violence (GBV) such as sexual harassment, sexual violence, early pregnancy, human trafficking, violence in the family and public environment, as well as in the context of human mobility, violence related to land ownership, violence against human rights defenders and violation of sexual and reproductive rights. In 2021, the rate of violence against women was 770 per 100,000 inhabitants, an increase of 12.9% compared to 2020. Until October 2022, the Women’s Observatory of the Public Ministry (MP) recorded 431 femicides; 70,776 cases of violence against women (195 reports filed per day), 15% more than the previous year. From every 10 victims, 7 are young and adult women (over 18 years old), 1 is a girl, boy, or teenager; and 2 are not registered.

Components:

Protection, prevention, and response to gender-based violence, and the coordination, promotion, and information of protective measures.
Economic recovery and market systems, including restoration of their previous means of subsistence and the development of new ones.

Objective:

To guarantee the protection and economic autonomy of women and girls in vulnerable situations and/or those who have suffered from food insecurity and gender-based violence (GBV) —which was increased by the pandemic—, including those who live in marginalized areas of Central America (Guatemala and Honduras).

Goal 1

Women and girls who have suffered or who are in risk of experiencing gender-based violence have access to prevention and response services when needed.

Goal 2

To improve women’s access to opportunities and markets for sustainable means of subsistence, with the aim of building economic resilience that will lead to a reduced vulnerability profile against gender-based violence.

Results:

Trainings on GBV prevention and care given to community leaders, service providers, and legal activists.
Case management of GBV survivors, where we provided psychological and legal support, and referrals to health services.
Financial support given to GBV survivors.