“If they don’t behave they disappear”
Cecilia (pictured above), is a 19-year-old Salvadoran girl. Cecilia has had to seek a restraining order so that her stepbrother could no longer pursue her. At the age of 10 she was taken away by him from the family home.
“When I was 10, he came for me and kept me away from my parents for 3 months… there wasn’t a day when he didn’t beat me.” Cecilia, 19
Unfortunately, stories like Cecilia’s are not uncommon in El Salvador. As El Salvador stands as one of the most dangerous places in the western hemisphere for women and girls due to high rates of physical and sexual violence.
Late last year, online newspaper El Faro published an eye-opening article detailing the incredible extent of gender-based violence in El Salvador and the repercussions that it is having across all areas of society.
The headline “If They Don’t Behave, They Disappear": Alison Renderos and the Disappeared Teen Girls of El Salvador, summed up the precarious situation which hundreds of thousands of teenage girls face every day in El Salvador. The article painted the bleak picture; Girls in their adolescence more than any other group in the community face growing rates of sexual violence on the streets, at schools and in their homes and sadly this widespread violence has amounted to another growing crisis as adolescent girls in staggering numbers are choosing suicide as a means to escape. Read the article here.
The lack of legal avenues, lack of protection for women and children, non-existent women’s refuges or shelters and the high rate of impunity for offenders who commit gender-based crimes are all issues which contribute to the sense of hopelessness and desperation.
An issue like this requires a dedicated and intentional response. Salvador’s HOPE has stepped forward to engage in this important conversation.
Over the last few months, as we have stepped out to make a difference for El Salvador’s adolescent girls, we have been encouraged by the response!
As a result of many conversations and support received, a much bigger dream has been birthed and we are incredibly excited by the doors that have opened, by God’s provision and favour which will enable us to outwork the first stages of our vision and initiative in El Salvador in the second half of this year!
Our vision is one of firstly instilling HOPE in the lives of vulnerable young girls with our focus being on violence prevention while imparting Worth, Value and Dignity into the lives of precious girls!
We have been incredibly encouraged by a new partnership in El Salvador. Behind the new partnership are people who share our heart and vision, who are ready to go and to roll out our brand-new initiative in local communities!
We are honoured and humbled that Salvador’s HOPE would have a unique opportunity to speak into these issues effectively through our partnerships with churches and NGO’s working in El Salvador.
Our brand-new initiative is ready to be launched on July 31st at our Ladies Lunch Fundraiser where we will get to share specific details on the project, how you can help and the vision for the project for next few years!
Together we CAN do something! We Thank you for your support.
Vania Labios
Salvador’s HOPE
