#16Days: Calixta is Breaking the Silence About Domestic Violence in Honduras

Illustration by Jason Drakeford

“In my community what men say is what is done. It doesn’t matter if a woman has a good idea to solve a problem, or if she is crying out for help. Women speaking out is taboo and their voices are not heard.”

Calixta is a volunteer at the Citizen Wellness Center in Tornabe, Honduras where machismo is deeply ingrained in the local culture. Unfortunately, so is violence.

Calixta had a tragic encounter with domestic violence when her older sister was murdered by her boyfriend. “My sister had moved out but her partner would come to our house looking for her. He would beat us if he could not find her. There was nothing my mother or I could do except hide and hope he would not kill her this time.” Until one day, he did.

“Violence is something I have dealt with my entire life. As a child, I swore no one would ever lay a hand on me, but I became aggressive and violent.” It wasn’t until Calixta joined a women’s organization that she learned the skills to turn her violent and destructive behavior into something healthy and positive.

Tornabe is a coastal town in the northeast of Honduras. In Honduras, 27 percent of all women report that they have suffered physical violence at one time or another in their lives. / Los viajes del Cangrejo

The Citizen Wellness Center is part of a USAID initiative that works with communities to include women in the creation of violence prevention plans to ensure they’re comprehensive and effective. In Tornabe, additional support is given to the Women’s Municipal Office and to women’s organizations which provide support and counseling to victims of violence, rape, and incest.

For Calixta and other anti-violence advocates, partnering with USAID means having an opportunity to break the silence and provide needed help for other women in the community. At the Center, Calixta helps others resolve disputes safely, keeping minor issues from becoming violent ones.

“I have the opportunity to let women and girls know that they have as many rights as men do and that they are entitled to a violence free life”.

Learn More: https://www.usaid.gov/16-days

This post is part of USAID’s 16 Days storytelling series. Please check back tomorrow for the next installment.