Jueves 28 de septiembre del 2006 | Correio-e: director@alcnoticias.org |Editora: Claudia Florentin
PARAGUAY - Overcoming Domestic Violence
ASUNCIÓN, 19 September (ALC). More than sixty participants, including psychologists, students, teachers and church leaders from Paraguay met for the Congress of Domestic Violence between 15 and 16 September. The Congress, held on September 15 and 16 at the Misión de Amistad, was convened by the Pastoral de Mujeres y Género (Church-associated Action Group on Women and Gender) of the Latin American Council of Churches(CLAI), by Misión de Amistad and the Disciples of Christ Church.
An interdisciplinary team of professionals led the workshops: Psychologist Sonia Fanego, Sociologist and Professor Rodolfo Gómez and Rev. Judith VanOsdol from CLAI. Their work was based on audio-visual materials from the CLAI campaign "Homes of Peace ? Peace starts at home", an initiative within the framework of the World Decade for Overcoming Violence.
Gómez addressed the theme of violence from a gender perspective, explaining the background of patriarchalism, inequality of power and privilege, as well as the need for gender awareness to overcome the issue of domestic violence. ?It was great to work as a team, and above all to hear the importance and impact of gender from a man?, said pastor VanOsdol. ?The joint participation of men and women, along with the participation of young people in the group also has a strong impact", she added.
CLAI promotes workshops, publications and meetings in its campaign "Homes of Peace" throughout Latin America. Partially focused on the number of women murdered in the region, workshops are scheduled in strategic locations in Central America in November. ?Training, both for treatment and prevention, is the key to overcoming domestic violence" highlighted VanOsdol. "We hope these workshops will be the first step in a continuous process toward a greater commitment in overcoming all other types of violence".
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------
Latin American and Caribbean News Agency (ALC) Olazábal 2842
1428 Buenos Aires - Argentina
Teléfono (54 11) 4782 0804 - Fax (5411) 4784 7121
Correo-e: editora@alcnoticias.org