Horizons of Friendship organized CANADIAN SPEAKING TOUR
BLANCA OLIVIA VELAZQUEZ
Feminist Collective Mercedes Olivera CHIAPAS, MEXICO
Horizons of Friendship is a Canadian non-profit international development organization committed to eliminating the root causes of poverty and injustice through cooperation of people from the South and the North. Horizons supports Central American and Mexican partner organizations that undertake citizen participation initiatives and implement community development projects. One of these organizations is the Feminist Collective Mercedes Olivera (COFEMO) from Chiapas, Mexico.
Feminist Collective Mercedes Olivera (COFEMO) is an autonomous organization that has a holistic vision of feminism and works to build a just, dignified, egalitarian and democratic society by struggling against the structural and situational causes of violence against women. COFEMO aims to create horizontal power relationships and solidarity between the genders, classes, ethnicities and generations, respecting diversities. They work to generate a new sense of citizenship through political action, establishing alliances and strategies with collectives and persons that share their struggle against a patriarchal/neoliberal structure that generates and deepens inequalities.
Violence is a daily reality for many women in Chiapas. This violence may be physical, psychological, sexual and economic, and it has grave consequences for women and children. Violence is aggravated by the precarious economic and social conditions in the region and by discrimination against indigenous people.Horizons is currently supporting “La Morada” Women’s Centre a project of COFEMO.
La Morada offers an integrated range of services with support and referrals in the areas of social work, medical attention, psychological counselling and legal services. The greatest demand for La Morada’s services comes from women living in poverty. The Centre also organizes sessions for women to work on self-esteem and to reflect on the structural causes of violence.
Blanca Olivia Velazquez has worked for over 10 years with women’s organizations in Mexico. She is a trained psychologist whose experiences include providing support for women who are victims of sexual and domestic violence, accompanying and advocating for them within the health and legal systems. Blanca Olivia is the coordinator and head psychologist of La Morada Women’s Centre and an active member of Feminist Collective Mercedes Olivera (COFEMO).
We aim to bring together Canadians in order to provide a forum for sharing analysis and lessons learnt on issues of violence against women and pursuing solidarity efforts.Blanca Olivia Velazquez will be visiting the cities of Kingston, Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton and Northumberland County from November 1 to 14, 2005.
Fore more information, please contact:
Jessica Farias
Community Outreach Coordinator
1-888-729-9928 Ext. 24
Email: jfarias@horizons.ca
Website: www.horizons.ca
