United Front to Combat Violence against Women

United Front to Combat Violence against Women
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 11/27/2011

Speaking at the Reflection Conference, Margarita Cedeño de Fernández took stock of what the Office of the First Lady has done since 2004. She also took the opportunity to call for a united front to eliminate domestic violence.

“We cannot allow the lives of hundreds of women to hang in the balance nor can we tolerate the fury, trauma and aggression carried out by some men. We cannot allow the happiness and well-being of hundreds of children and teens to be destroyed because they have watched the murder and abuse of their mothers or have been left orphans and vulnerable,” she stressed.

She solicited the Women’s Attorney General and Chief of National Police to receive and process abuse and mistreatment complaints from women and men who are sensitized to the situation. She stressed that there can be no impunity in such cases, as this could generate more violence against women.

As head of the Reflection Conference, attended by national and international religious leaders who analyzed the issue from a scriptural point of view, the First Lady confirmed that this gathering is essentially a call for all the population to become conscious of the fundamental values of faith and to assume the total rejection of domestic violence as a personal and national commitment. She noted that gender violence is increasing at alarming levels around the world and particularly in the Dominican Republic.

“We cannot allow the lives of hundreds of women to hang in the balance nor can we tolerate the fury, trauma and aggression carried out by some men. We cannot allow the happiness and well-being of hundreds of children and teens to be destroyed because they have watched the murder and abuse of their mothers or have been left orphans and vulnerable,” she stressed.

Violence against women is one of the cruelest demonstrations of the lack of values, said Cedeño de Fernández, and it damages not just the victim but the entire family. As a result of inequality between men and women, this abuse constitutes a manifestation of abuse and injustice.   

She explained that the Office of the First Lady (DPD in Spanish), through its Progresando program, works to prevent violence against women among 200.000 families who live in extreme poverty and vulnerability.  Women who are part in the program are trained to detect the symptoms or tendencies toward abuse in their own partners and to prevent them from becoming serious physical, psychological or sexual problems.

“We also work with men to create a new concept of masculinity and to change the machista culture that tends to perpetuate discrimination against women. Men cannot continue to see women as sexual objects to be dominated. To achieve this change, the media has as helpful role to play starting with the values they project on radio, television and in public spaces,” she said.

Stressing the importance of breaking the cycle of violence and dependence associated with economic reliance, she explained that the Office of the First Lady promotes female autonomy through training and income generation programs.

Details about the activity

Activities developed to mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women include the participation of preachers, worshippers, world famous Catholic and Christian singers who, through song and preaching, carry the message of hope and  peace as well as family, society and state unity to all participants. They will join in the call for respect and dignity for women, stressing their right to a life free of violence.

Some of the participants included Father Michel Rosario Vargas, of the La Vega diocese; Rafaela Burgos, from the Family Institute; Monsignor Lorenzo Vargas, Coordinator of the Pastoral Social Plan of the Archdiocese of Santo Domingo; the  evangelist Carlos Rey, from the Message of Conscience Ministry and Preacher Saulo Hidalgo. The Songs of Praise were sung by Christian singer, Alejandro del Bosque.

The Reflection analyzed the biblical references to the problem of violence against women, the pastoral experience and living faith. Each speaker had ten minutes to deliver their speech.

The Office of the First Lady, since 2004, has sponsored this Reflection and Prayer Conference which, on this occasion, sought to raise awareness and to create a strong united front against gender violence within the family.