Challenging Violence Against Women (VAW) in Honduras.

03 Mar 2009

Talk and nine-minute DVD documentary on 10 March.

Tuesday 10 March, 4-6pm
G47, Williamson Building

Sara Elizabeth Avilez Tome is a lawyer, and brings her legal expertise to the project, providing support to girls and women, who are victims of violence in poor and marginalised communities, including women from ethnic minorities (indigenous and black 'Garifunas') and with HIV and AIDS.

Sara pursues legal cases dealing with severe torture and abuse of women's human rights. She has also been working with other women's networks in the creation of the Commission of Femicide for lobbying the government for the development of a law against Femicide, following the example of Mexico and Guatemala.

Sara is a leader, providing gender training and 'masculinities' workshops to judges and the police force, bringing a new dimension to the role of governmental institutions as service providers.

Maria Amalia Reyes Cartagena is one of the formidable grassroots leaders in Honduras today, and is currently standing for office in their forthcoming local elections. She is a survivor of many years of systematic domestic violence, who managed to escape and look for help.

Maria Amalia now shares her experiences with local women through different Self Help Groups, and empowers them to take leading roles in improving social behavior in their communities. The UN has produced a nine-minute documentary interviewing Maria Amalia and exposing the levels of gender-based violence in Honduras.