Community network in El Hormiguero and Wani Central

By: Algiers Hernandez

In celebration of International Women's Day, the URACCAN Centre for Multi-Ethnic Women's Studies and Information (CEIMM) organized a community network of women from different local sectors, political, police, educational and religious authorities to strengthen security and prevent violence against women, adolescents and children. All this work was carried out in coordination with the Nidia White Women's Movement of the municipality of Siuna.

"We articulate this activity with CEIMM-URACCAN, as we agree on the defence of women's rights, we are trying to unify efforts with local communities, institutions and organizations, to create a community network and to put women's rights vindication processes into action, but also to lower the rate of violence against women" Reina Flores Guido, field technique of the Nidia White Movement, said.

Teacher Ada Madrigal, an advocate for women's, children's rights and the LGBTI community, explained that 20 women, local law enforcement authorities, teachers, community leaders in the region and Wani Central were trained for three days in El Anthill. In addition, "guidance was provided on access to justice, guidance on issues of gender-based violence to women and children, presenting the lines of action: gender, violence and spirituality within the framework of the Decolonization and Depatriarcalization project for Transformation from Education".

Among other activities, a forum was held with women working on the prevention and care of situations of gender-based violence, family advocacy, education, where the Institutional Commission for the Eradication of Violence and Discrimination participated from URACCAN and members of the Ministry of Health. "Each of these instances is presenting its work based on prevention in the treatment of violence," Madrigal said.

"In this meeting, we listen to the direct experiences of the victims and that they can contribute in this process with their ideas and that we can help them strengthen within their community, but also to strengthen the processes that are being done from the institutions to reduce the current rate of violence," Flores explained.

For her part, Lesbia Morales López, public defender in the family area, said that her work in training was to provide information on access to justice and alimony, "it is important that you know the routes that must follow to have that access through three ways: administrative, judicial and notary, but this process requires requirements that were made known to them to restore that right that women have , boys, girls and adolescents."

Eddy Enrique Frech Avellán, senior NCO and head of el Hormiguero's police post, said that "the goal as a police authority in the El Hormiguero area is to visit each of the communities, to provide educational talks in schools focused on the prevention of violence against women and children and above all to strengthen citizen security".

The young Rosa Reyes, participant of the activity, rated as very important the training because she provides knowledge and practical tools to each woman, empowering them. Reyes urged women to speak out of any violence, for that is the primary step in getting out of that cycle of aggression.      

To end the cycle of activities planned by CEIMM-URACCAN, a softball sporting meeting was held, where the women of the El Hormiguero and Wani Central communities experienced moments of recreation and inner healing, strengthening their bonds of friendship.