Combatting Domestic Violence in Bolivia

Maria (a pseudonym) decided to leave her husband of 10 years for good this time because she realized that "the life I was living wasn't living." Bruised, depressed, and in need of a safe place to stay with her three children, she found her way to CEPROSI (Center for Promotion and Integral Health) on the outskirts of La Paz, and it may have saved her life.

Luisa Alipaz, CEPROSI's administrator, says: "Out of every 10 women in Bolivia, six suffer from domestic violence, and these women don't have a place to stay if they decide to leave their husbands or partners. Shelters where women can go with their children are essential but difficult to find."

With support from CIDA, the CEPROSI shelter was completely refurbished and is now able to offer its services to women and their children. During their three-month stay at CEPROSI, women start the physical and psychological healing process; have access to doctors, lawyers and social workers; gain back some self-esteem, and start to make plans for their lives after they leave the shelter. "This kind of assistance is absolutely crucial as many women don't have the will to live after years of staying in a violent relationship," says Ms. Alipaz.

As Maria explains: "I have all the support and help I need here. I have never had so much support. Here, I have affection and love from people who don't even belong to my family, but they've welcomed me as if they did." The Centre also provides help and support for the children, as they too are victims of violence, whether it is physical or psychological.

When she arrived at the shelter, a forensic doctor examined Maria to establish the extent of her physical injuries (suffered at the hands of her husband when she left her house that last time). During her six-week stay, she also received psychological support, which helped her begin to regain her self-esteem and self-worth, and got legal counsel to prosecute her husband.

"I think if I hadn't found CEPROSI, and without all their help, I would have returned to my home-but to a home where I was beaten, where I didn't have any rights. I realized that at home my rights were humiliated." Maria is now ready to move on with her life. At CEPROSI, she has also discovered that she can support herself and her children as a cleaner-she has learned how to live as an independent woman.

Ms. Alipaz says that thanks to Canadian support for programs such as CEPROSI: "The municipality and the departmental government are very interested in supporting places such as CEPROSI because they see the results. One of the biggest impacts of CIDA's support is that now the government is going to replicate this shelter and build others."

CIDA has been working on projects in Bolivia that promote equality between women and men since 1994. Another project in Riberalta, in northern Bolivia, increases community awareness about the incidence of violence against women at home, at work, in school, or in the streets, and helps women get the legal and social help they need to free themselves of domestic violence. CIDA is also working with the Government of Bolivia to ensure that new public policies promote equality between women and men.