Breathe
By Wendy Figueroa
On this day it is essential to begin to make women refugees visible, being imperative to talk about the World Day of "Refugees", since 48% of them are women according to UNHCR data (2021).
In addition, globally, we face a silent and devastating crisis: that of displaced women due to family violence, a reality that also deeply affects Mexico, data from COMAR reflect that many women are forced to leave their homes due to male violence.
It is imperative to adopt a feminist approach to address these realities, dismantle entrenched gender inequalities and ensure security systems that comprehensively protect women, both in their home environments and in situations of displacement as they face multifaceted challenges including lack of access to essential services, insecurity and revictimization.
It is important to note that this displacement is also internal, in 2023, of the 20,284 women and children assisted by the National Shelter Network (RNR), 46% had to leave their homes and move to other states in Mexico to escape their aggressors, 48% of whom have military or political ties and also use firearms, reasons why it is women who are forced to leave everything behind to preserve their own safety. This displacement is a clear expression of the crisis in human rights, gender equality and social justice experienced by women in our country.
A reality that many governments refuse to acknowledge, as internal displacement is evidence of the impunity and lack of access to comprehensive justice faced by women victims of family and/or gender-based violence. Changing this situation is vital so that displaced women can find a safe space and receive the support they need.
Mariana, a woman resident of a shelter member of the RNR, shares with us: "I denounced 4 times, they did nothing, the last time, he threw gasoline on me and set me on fire, the neighbors helped me, I do not know how I am alive, when I woke up they told me that he had fled, I could not go home to my family because he would surely go looking for me, I did not want to return home, a nurse told me about the shelters, here I am, I am finding myself again, I am healing, but I will not walk calmly until they catch him".
Shelters play an essential role in the lives of women who have been displaced by family violence, providing them with a safe and specialized environment in situations where institutional help is limited or non-existent. Their role goes beyond immediate protection, by offering specialized comprehensive care, emotional support and opportunities to promote women's empowerment, therefore, these spaces in addition to preventing femicides, chemical attacks or vicarious violence, encourage women to embrace their freedoms by recovering their dignity and autonomy.
And this emancipatory path begins by legitimizing the voices of women displaced by macho, family and/or gender violence, therefore since 2019 in the National Shelter Network (RNR) we promote the Campaign "Silences that sing, souls that paint, voices that resignify" to make visible through art therapy to women victims of forced displacement by family and gender violence.
Jesica, a female user of an RNR member shelter, shares her experience: "I fled with my 2 year old daughter, even with a protection order he came home with a gun, the shelter has given us peace and the tranquility that he will not find us, I have strengthened my wings, now the law must do its thing and stop him".
It is essential to adopt policies that safeguard the rights of displaced women, guaranteeing their access to comprehensive justice, security and a dignified life. It is time to listen to and amplify their voices, reminding the Mexican State of the urgent need to create violence-free environments for all women and to end impunity for human rights violations.
* Wendy Figueroa Morales is a feminist psychologist. She is the general director of the National Shelter Network.
The opinions expressed are the responsibility of the authors and are absolutely independent of the position and editorial line of the company. Opinion 51.
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