Women stand up to domestic violence

Actions for combating all types of violence against women are carried out in all the units of the Legion of Good Will. The LBV of Paraguay, for example, has been working on this issue through the Strengthening Lives group. In the Villa Angélica settlement, located in the city of Lambaré, metropolitan region of Asuncion, the activities undertaken show how education can considerably reduce acts of violence.

Raquel Morel, 34, one of the women benefited from the program, remembers the challenges she faced during her 16-year marriage: “In the beginning my relationship with my husband was good, but then he became violent, because I have a son from another relationship. He mistreated me and sometimes my son. . . . Since I came across the LBV I have recovered my self-esteem, started studying, and now I see that I have to stand up for myself so that other people can value me.”

In this way, she was finally able to put an end to that cycle of ill-treatment and started seeing new paths for herself and the community around her, which became more united because of the information and guidance received. “The Strengthening Lives group is very positive for the women here . . ., because we share our problems. We laugh, work, and express our ideas together. At the talks we learn about our rights as women and that no one should mistreat us. We need to wake up and move ahead and not abandon our children,” she said.

The positive effects are visible, as Raquel herself likes to mention: “The community improved in many aspects; we learned to ask for God’s protection, to pray, to value ourselves. The LBV has been there for us in both the good and bad moments. It always provides great help to women, children, young people, adults, and the elderly.”