Equal Access to Justice for Women in Honduras
Sombrilla International Development Society
Honduras has one of the highest rates of gender-based violence (GBV) in Latin America, with psychological, sexual, and physical violence especially prevalent in rural areas. Many women have become accustomed to witnessing violence in their families and are either unaware of mechanisms for reporting or are too scared to speak out in fear that the men in their lives will be incarcerated.
Communities in the Lepaera and Las Flores region had no established community groups or mechanisms for women to come together. Many women's lives revolve around their household responsibilities – they only leave their houses to buy groceries or do not leave at all because their husband or partner won’t allow it. As a result, women are isolated and lack outside networks and friends with whom to share their experiences.
One local woman described the isolation she felt from her community, which was compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. She felt alone, depressed, lacked connections with other women, and had no access to outside resources. Many women, especially those aged 50 or more, have similar stories of isolation, abuse, and experiences of violence that they never processed or shared with other women or professionals. This violence is normalized in many communities, and some women feel there is nothing they could or should do to defend themselves. The few institutions where women can report cases often provide low quality service and often are not able to take cases.
Supported by FIT, Sombrilla International Development Society and local partners Organismo Cristiano de Desarrollo Integral de Honduras (OCDIH ) tested an innovative solution aimed at improving women’s access to the judicial system, as well as raising awareness and increasing knowledge about gender-based violence in the region. This was done through the provision of a mobile clinic that provided legal and psychological support services to women facing gender-based violence (GBV), capacity building for women and women’s groups to strengthen women’s leadership and networks, a public awareness campaign, and the creation of self-help groups for women to share their stories and support each other. The overarching aim of the innovation was to achieve greater empowerment of women and girls in their ability to protect and exercise their rights, in particular the right to a life free of violence, while using a culturally appropriate and gender sensitive approach.
The innovation collaborated with established women’s networks and trusted community leaders while engaging in capacity building activities for local organizations and the communities themselves. Additionally, the gender sensitive approach meant that women’s specific needs were accommodated at every step. For example, childcare was provided to ensure that women could participate fully, and women’s organizations and other stakeholders were involved in project development to gain and enhance the trust of the community. Women who are victims of gender violence were given safe and effective mechanisms for access to legal and psychological assistance in the mobile clinic within a framework of justice and equity.
The innovation brought about positive change at the individual, household, and community level.
An encouraging 90% of participants reported increases in their knowledge of women’s rights and the mechanisms for reporting.
The availability of the mobile clinic increased women’s confidence to recognize and discuss abuse within their households, refrain from normalizing it in their communities, and stand up against all forms of violence. This went hand in hand with improved self-esteem for women, confidence in moving forward without a man in their lives, greater participation in public spaces, and stronger communities overall. Additionally, an estimated 21,070 people were reached indirectly through the public awareness campaign focused on GBV. This campaign included street signage, radio and television spots, and social media posts.
The innovation provided immense benefits for local women and communities in the Lepaera and Las Flores region more broadly. By the end of the self-help group sessions, women had strong support networks and considered each other family. Having the support from a group has given women confidence and reassurance that they are not alone. Women in the self-help groups have bonded significantly and have now become a resource for others in their community. The woman who described facing isolation and depression became an active member of the self-help groups and was afterwards recruited to become a group leader. She then worked to support other women facing similar hardships and abuse, giving her not only the opportunity to help build and maintain a strong network of women in her community, but also a renewed sense of purpose.
“During COVID, I never left my house and had no connection with anyone from the community. I was alone and depressed, until I was asked to be part of this project.”
-Self-help group leader
