“Vivify you”, the strategy for women victims of sexual violence to talk about their resilience process

Through the “Vivify you” strategy, the Unit for Victims convened women affected by sexual violence from Huila to a meeting to share knowledge, experiences and concerns through a day of social assistance.

This measure is part of a set of methodologies with a differential approach of the Department of Reparation of the Unit for Victims. Among its objectives is to strengthen women's autonomy and empowerment, so as to reinforce the reconstruction of their lives, after surviving crime.

During the activity that took place on the afternoon of this Wednesday, April 13, the territorial director of the Unit for Victims, Yhina Paola Lombana, stressed that, “the participants had the opportunity to have fun while they floated that won fortress. We are motivating and empowering these women to overcome their effects and contributing to the strengthening of their life projects,” he added.

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The meeting was held at the Regional Center for Victim Care (CRAV) in Neiva, where each woman had the opportunity to explain her situation, including the emotional impact of the violence.

The public official stressed that, “for them, it was significant to meet those who have had the same victimizing event, so they were facilitated to share how they have coped with pain throughout their recovery and, among other things, what their resilience process has been like, which in some cases they had not identified.”

According to figures reported by the Ministry of Health of Huila and the implementation of the strategy 'Huila grows without fear or violence', 237 cases of violence against women have been reported in the department so far this year. While in 2021 there were more than 3,800 incidents of domestic violence.

According to Claudia Marcela Maya Perdomo, head of the Office for Women, Children, Adolescents and Social Affairs of the Government of Huila, the department has been developing several strategies with training days for women to identify violent relationships.

Another point that the program “Vivificarte” seeks to rescue is to develop actions for non-repetition. “This measure aims to contribute to the symbolic and comprehensive reparation of women victims of crimes against integrity, freedom and sexual formation,” said the state entity.

In her speech, the territorial director, Yhina Paola Lombana, said that “sometimes they do not identify that they are empowered women, that they have an identity, qualities, that are supremely strong, capable of facing the present and the future with integrity.”

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The entity stressed that this accompaniment is “done in a respectful manner, recognizing autonomy and considering that each human being can assume his own life with decision-making and responsibility, even in the most painful circumstances”.

Throughout the meetings contemplated by the strategy, the metaphor of the “tree-woman” is used, which exemplifies three lines of action and moments in life: recognition and dignity, are the roots, empowerment and recognition are found in the trunk and the project of life and life course, in the branches.

Fabiola Bocanegra, a participant in the strategy, said she was very happy with the activities. “This helps us to get rid of so many problems and get out of the routine environment that we have in our lives,” he said.

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