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Say NO – UNiTE against violence

12 febrero, 2010

Breaking News, Success Stories

“I left my home with the man that is now my husband when I was 14-years-old. I thought I was going to have a better life, but it didn’t turn out that way.

I dedicated myself to maintaining our home while my husband worked. According to him, the woman’s role is to take care of the children and to do everything in the house – wash, iron, and cook. He beat me frequently and there was nothing I could do to stop him.”

Sandra in her workshop

– Sandra Ordonez, Nicaragua

These stories are all too common. Sandra Sandra soon received her first loan from Pro Mujer. According to the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), over 70% of women suffer physical or sexual violence from men during their lifetime.

To help connect women, activists and organizations, UNIFEM has launched the Say NO – UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign.

Create an action, or join and action, just take action! There are so many ways to say no to violence against women.

Sandra became a Pro Mujer client and microentreprenuer, processing and selling jícaro seeds. Since starting her own business and joining her communal bank at Pro Mujer, Sandra has found her voice and her power. Sandra learned about her rights and found a community to support her.

The domestic violence has ended. Sandra threatened her husband that she would tell the people at Pro Mujer if he continued beating her. She demanded to be an equal partner in the house.

Sandra says, “My life is better because my children are able to go to school to learn to read and write and they are no longer hungry all the time. I am able to do what I want with my money and I don’t have to depend on my husband.”