12-10-2021 | di COOPI

Venezuela. Became alert against gender-based violence

In Venezuela, another important consequence of the crisis has hit the country in recent years. It has been the increase in gender-based violence, with a progressive weakening of the state protection system, as well as the public health system. Those particularly affected were women, young people, adolescents and LGBTIQ+ people.

Therefore COOPI - Cooperazione Internazionale decided to implement the project "WITHOUT BORDERS - Saving lives and protecting dignity of migrants and communities affected by the crisis in Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador", in consortium with CARE and with the support of the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO).

COOPI focuses its action on three areas of priority for humanitarian aid in the country (Capital District, Miranda and Lara), by promoting awareness about gender-based violence, developing and improving the capacities of local authorities in dealing with such emergencies, and managing the cases of survivors of violence.

In detail, between July 2020 and July 2021, 1,720 survivors were assisted by receiving legal and psychosocial counselling and accompaniment, while 115 civil servants developed capacities to manage cases of violence. As part of the protection activities, 4,648 people were sensitised on issues related to gender-based violence, such as prevention, identification and case management.

As Ana, 24 years old, resident in the community of Barquisimeto (Lara), survivor of gender-based violence and beneficiary of the assistance of protection services, testifies: "I am very grateful for your support. If it wasn't for your help, I really wouldn't have been able (...) to get my husband out of the house. I was really scared, I felt very insecure (...) It was very important for me, I am very grateful."