A Collective Call to Action: LAWA’s 16 Days of Activism 2024

As the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence draws to a close, Latin American Women’s Aid (LAWA) reflects on a transformative and impactful campaign. This year, our “We Are LAWA” initiative not only highlighted the profound challenges faced by Black, Latin American and global majority women affected by domestic violence but also celebrated their resilience and strength. Over these 16 days, we strengthened bonds with our community, elevated survivors’ voices, and inspired meaningful action.

At the heart of this year’s campaign was the promotion of LAWA’s Annual Report, which captures the breadth of our work and the lives we’ve impacted. We invite you to delve into the report to learn more about our journey and achievements. Click here to read the full report. Alongside this, LAWA participated in a series of events, each showcasing our role as advocates and changemakers. Below, we share the highlights of these impactful engagements.

Events with Hackney Council

As part of Hackney Council’s 16 Days of Activism initiatives, LAWA played a pivotal role in multiple events:

• November 25th: LAWA joined a Hackney event dedicated to ending Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), standing alongside local leaders and community members to champion safer communities.
• November 27th: Our team led two online sessions:
  • Show and Share: Domestic Abuse and the LBTQ+ Community Training– Here, we provided expertise on intersectionality and effective strategies for supporting LBTQ+ survivors.
  • Livestream: Hackney Specialist Black and Global Majority VAWG Agencies – This session highlighted the critical importance of culturally tailored services and referral pathways.

Advocacy at the Colombian consulate

On November 26th, LAWA facilitated the event Construyendo un entorno seguro para víctimas de violencia de género (Building a Safe Environment for Victims of Gender-Based Violence) at the Colombian Consulate in London. This live-streamed event shed light on the importance of creating safe spaces for survivors while amplifying calls for systemic change and policy reforms to protect women’s rights.

Highlighting migrant women’s realities with the Migrant Women Press

We collaborated with the Migrant Women Press on their 16 Days, 16 Stories project, a powerful series of articles authored by migrant and ethnically diverse women. These narratives explored the intersections of race, gender and migration in survivors’ experiences while highlighting solutions to tackle violence.

LAWA contributed with an article titled “The Impact of the UK’s Housing Crisis on Black and Minoritised Survivors of Gender-Based Violence”, written by our team members Gabriela Quevedo and Daniela Londoño. This piece examined the systemic barriers that make it increasingly difficult for survivors to escape abusive situations and secure safe housing. Read the full article here.

Driving change: Leadership advocacy

On November 27^th, our Director, Angie Herrera Rueda, spoke at the London Funders’ Autumn Conference on the importance of investing in grassroots leadership. She emphasised the role of community leaders in driving systemic change, advocating for greater support and trust from funders.

Collaborative action: LAWA and LAWRS

On November 28th, LAWA joined the Latin American Women’s Rights Service (LAWRS) in an internal session addressing systemic barriers such as restrictive immigration policies and unsafe housing. Together, we reinforced the importance of culturally tailored support and celebrated collective successes in advocacy and service delivery.

Cultural solidarity at UNID@S 2024

On November 29th, LAWA participated in the UNID@S 2024 event organised by Respeito, alongside Indoamerican Refugee And Migrant Organisation (IRMO) and LAWRS. This gathering spotlighted the challenges faced by migrant survivors, the systemic inequalities they endure, and the collective commitment to end violence against women.

Inspiring solidarity: Samira Project

On December 3rd, LAWA chaired an event in partnership with the Kurdish and Middle Eastern Women’s Organisation (KMEWO), IMECE Women’s Centre and the Islington Harmful Practice Forum as part of the Samira Project. The agenda featured survivor stories, cultural performances and a collective call to action, reinforcing the importance of collaboration in addressing harmful practices.

Our community-centred programmes

Throughout the campaign, we highlighted our ongoing programmes that empower women and foster community resilience. These programmes were presented in three languages – English, Spanish and Portuguese – ensuring accessibility and inclusivity:

• Change Makers: Building collective intersectional and intergenerational feminist spaces for our community to meet, learn and advance together.
• Growing Together: Reducing isolation among women aged 50+ by promoting skills development, social connections, and independent living.
• Volunteer and Internship Programmes: Equipping women from the global majority with valuable skills and opportunities to challenge systemic inequalities and gain experience in the VAWG sector.

As this year’s campaign concludes, LAWA remains steadfast in its mission to empower survivors, dismantle systemic barriers and create a future free from violence. The successes of the past 16 days reaffirm the power of collaboration and the importance of amplifying diverse voices. Together, we are LAWA. Together, we create change.