Between 2013 and 2018, more than 500,000 incidents of violence against women were registered in Argentina. In the same time period, the small town of Matheu with approximately 20,000 inhabitants, had almost no reports of gender-based violence. The local library found these statistics striking and sought to support both the women who had experienced violence and those who had not reported assaults.
The library launched Women’s Circle – a network that provides a place for local women to meet with each other and to gather resources. The programme aims to empower local women by countering oppression through civil and legal rights education. Through programme activities, women gain social support and access to legal assistance, and they learn to identify the societal and cultural structures that enable gender violence.
Participation in the monthly Women’s Circle meetings is free to everyone. The library’s support team consists of six volunteers who are assisted by social workers, social work students and local teachers. Volunteers deliver educational workshops to groups of two or three, starting with an overview of gender-based violence. Meetings provide participants with resources on topics such as parenting, self-esteem, and effective communication, as well as strategies for combatting manipulation and other abusive behaviours. In subsequent meetings, attendees share their own experiences and reflections.
To date, 85 women have attended Women’s Circle, with more than 25 women attending sessions regularly. Private telephone consultations are available and have been used by 20 women who were afraid to participate in person. The library receives, on average, one new person per week and provides ongoing services to existing participants.
Attendees of Women’s Circle have formed their own networks to exchange knowledge, to assist with incident reporting and to provide emotional support. To help facilitate communication throughout these networks, the Women’s Circle created a dissemination tool. The networks were able to engage an additional 150 women through talks in schools for adults and other neighbourhood groups for women and adolescents.
The Women’s Circle has been an eye-opener for many women. Liliana, one of the workshop participants, shared a realisation: “Many of us have become aware of what it really is gender violence which we sometimes experience in our lives. Many women do not know that there is more than one form of violence.” Alfonsina, another participant, added her appreciation for the programme: “We find it [the Women’s Circle] a very good activity to repeat in many places because it gives us the possibility to understand certain issues which we cannot learn elsewhere.”
The Women’s Circle has submitted reports in several judicial cases and is currently following their development. Through work with local and regional organisations such as the Court of Peace, Prosecutor’s Office, Local Service for the Protection of Children and Adolescents and school interdisciplinary teams, the Women’s Circle has resulted in positive outcomes in over 10 cases. They work in collaboration with local social movement organisations, helping to identify and pursue new cases. The Women’s Circle endures as a valuable resource for Matheu’s women and the organisations that support them.
