Voices of Resilience: short documentary
Migrant and refugee women face multiple barriers when arriving in the EU and the current political anti-migrant climate has made their situations direr. Experiences of gender-based abuse, exploitation at work and isolation have been exacerbated by the progressive erosion of migrant and women’s rights.
On International Migrant Day 2018, LAWRS launches the short documentary titled: “Voices of resilience: Migrant and Refugee women in Europe” which highlights the experiences of migrant women in the UK, Spain, Poland and Italy and sharing their experiences and calls for change.
The short documentary was made as part of the Women, Empowerment, Integration and Participation project (WEIP) run by LAWRS (UK), Differenza Donna (Italy), KARAT Coalition (Poland) and Red Acoge (Spain) and brought the voices and experiences of migrant and refugee women to the forefront. The documentary was first screened in November at the WEIP’s international conference in London, where more than 20 migrant and women organisations in Europe highlighted the role of migrant women’s lived experiences and provided recommendations to uphold their right to integrate and to live free of violence and discrimination.
Sophia Gomez Pelaez, a migrant woman in Spain, interviewed in the short documentary states:
“We come looking for other opportunities, especially as women as we are searching to cover family needs. However, it is difficult to find shelter as we often face rejection”
Moreover, Cathrine Nsamba, a migrant woman in Italy also interviewed (and photographed above) recommends:
“I was supported by the organisation to learn more and to understand more […]and my advice for women like me are to go inside leadership and campaign for these leaderships”
Finally, Alma Gatica, the WEIP Coordinator at the Latin American Women’s Rights Service stresses the importance of a migrant and gender perspective in our work.
“We, migrant women, have to get access to decision-making spaces where policies are discussed so we can fully participate in the host country: socially, politically and economically. We are the leaders of our own empowerment journey, both as migrants and as women”
Watch the full short documentary:
Co-funded by the Asylum, Migration and Integration fund of the European Commission
Relaunch of Sin fronteras: Empowering young women from Latin America
We are thrilled to announce the return of Sin Fronteras! Launched in June 2015, Sin Fronteras (No Limits) focuses on empowering young Latin American women and girls. Sin Fronteras provides them with a safe space to develop their full potential and lead on actions for social change through the use of arts. During the first two and a half years of the project, LAWRS offered different workshops and activities to more than 100 Latin American young women and girls. Through art, dance and music the young women and girls were able to identify themselves as agents that can generate a social change in our communities.
“We want to set an example, leave a footprint and speak up for Latin American people and for people from all over the world whose voices are silenced or to whom language is a barrier,” said the manifest written by members of the group.
They advocated for the recognition of young migrant women’s rights by calling for a recognition of rights through photography exhibitions, by demonstrating against detention at Yarl’s Wood, and by joining the campaign Against Border for Children (ABC). Here is Sin Fronteras standing up for the the right to education free from racism and state surveillance.
LAWRS is thrilled to relaunch Sin Fronteras in November 2018. We will run a 3-month creative leadership programme with the support of the University of London, a 1-year programme to access free university lectures thanks to King’s College London, and a 3-year programme of arts, development and social change funded by Paul Hamlyn Foundation. Stay tuned to get more news about the awesome things this group of young leaders will be doing in the coming months.
El amor no mata, la violencia sí
El amor no mata, la violencia sí es nuestra campaña de tolerancia cero a la violencia contra las mujeres y las niñas, que tiene como objetivo crear conciencia sobre la violencia que afecta a las mujeres latinoamericanas y otras mujeres migrantes en el Reino Unido.
Esta campaña destaca la importancia de reconocer a la comunidad latinoamericana como una minoría étnica para que las mujeres de nuestra comunidad puedan acceder a servicios que respondan de manera efectiva a sus necesidades específicas.
Hacemos un llamado al gobierno central y a las autoridades locales para:
- Brindar servicios adecuados y específicos a las necesidades de las mujeres migrantes víctimas de violencia y abuso.
- Reconocer oficialmente a los latinoamericanos como categoría étnica.
- Asegurar financiamiento para organizaciones comunitarias especializadas que respondan a las necesidades de las mujeres migrantes y otras minorías víctimas de violencia y abuso.
Esta campaña se lanzó con la proyección de nuestro cortometraje “Mujeres invisibles”, con una audiencia de más de 130 líderes y activistas de la comunidad latinoamericana. “Mujeres invisibles” se basa en las experiencias de 3 de nuestras usuarias. Sus historias reflejan la situación de abuso, explotación y pobreza que enfrentan hoy muchas mujeres latinoamericanas en el Reino Unido. Producido por Literally Films y Media Trust, puedes verlo aquí:
La proyección fue seguida por una mesa redonda con la MP laborista Stella Creasy, Prevención del Crimen y Campeona de la campaña One Billion Rise; Katharine Round, directora de Literally Films y directora del video “Mujeres invisibles”; y Carolina Gottardo, directora de LAWRS en aquel entonces. El debate fue presidido por la profesora Maxine Molyneux, directora del Instituto de las Américas, University College London.
Nuestros carteles contra la violencia en español y portugués se exhiben en organizaciones, tiendas, iglesias y otros espacios comunitarios. Nuestro trabajo para exigir el reconocimiento oficial y la financiación adecuada para los servicios de apoyo continúa, pero las mujeres latinoamericanas necesitan que tú apoyes su lucha por la igualdad.