Artists and Experts Join Forces to Explore The Experiences of Women Who Flee Central America

WASHINGTON — Artists and experts will come together for a one-day event to explore, describe and represent the situation of women who have fled Central America. Original artwork created especially for this event will be displayed while panelists discuss why so many women decide to leave their homes, the effects of current policies in the Americas, and recommendations to better address the needs and demands of these women as migrants and in their countries of origin.

Hosted by the Center for Victims of Torture (CVT) and the Inter-American Commission of Women of the Organization of American States (OAS/CIM), the September 20 event will be held at the OAS Main Building in Washington, D.C.

Artists Gerardo Camargo, Ernesto Cárcamo Cavazos, Paola Mendoza and Alison Lee Schroeder contributed artwork and will open the event with a discussion of how their pieces represent the experiences of women who have been forced to flee Central America. Alejandra Mora Mora, executive secretary of the CIM, will moderate the artists’ panel. 

The expert panel, to be moderated by Andrea Cárcamo, CVT senior policy counsel, will include Ava Benach, immigration attorney at Benach Collopy LLP, Daniella Burgi-Palomino, senior associate at the Latin America Working Group (LAWG), Begoña Fernandez from Together for Girls, and Luz Patricia Mejía Guerrero of the Follow-Up Mechanism to the Belém do Pará Convention (MESECVI).

“This event is important because we are experiencing a refugee crisis in the Americas.  While women from Central America are not the only ones seeking refuge, they are at times underrepresented or mischaracterized as economic migrants,” said Andrea Cárcamo. “This event will help to build public understanding that, in addition to extreme poverty and a lack of development opportunities, these women are also fleeing from very real dangers, including torture, rape and murder.”

Alejandra Mora Mora pointed out the dangers women face not only in their countries of origin, but along their journeys. “Migrant women face multiple forms of violence and discrimination, including human trafficking, sexual violence, unwanted pregnancies, health risks and separation of families. All these issues place migrant women in a situation of greater vulnerability, depriving them of the enjoyment and full exercise of their human rights,” she stated.

The event is open to the public and free of charge, but registration is required. See the full agenda here. 

WHAT: The Experiences of Women Who Flee Central America

WHEN: Friday, September 20, 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

WHERE: OAS Main Building, 17^th & Constitution, Washington, D.C.

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The Center for Victims of Torture is a nonprofit organization headquartered in St. Paul, MN, with offices in Atlanta, GA, and Washington, D.C.; and healing initiatives in Africa and the Middle East. Visit www.cvt.org

Established in 1928, the Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM) was the first inter-governmental agency established to ensure recognition of women's human rights and is the principal forum for debating and formulating policy on women's rights and gender equality in the Americas. About us: www.oas.org/en/cim