Gender violence is a global challenge. Worldwild, one woman of three is victim of physical, sexual or psycological violence during her life.
It is an important challenge for Ecuador: 587 feminicides were recorded in the country between 2014 and 2018 (official figures below to reality). In average six women of ten are victims of violences in the country. Those violences consequences are numerous and long-term, bot for the victims and the whole society?
In the Napo province, where Patou Solidarité works since 2012, the gender problem is particularly important. The estimations are that two women of three are victims of violences in their life. In 78 per cent of cases, the aggressor is the partner or ex-partner. To respond to this problem, the association identified an urgent need of opening a shelter for women victims of violences and their children.
After one year of combined efforts from the association, local authorities and other organisations of civil society, the Wasi Pani shelter opened its doors the 11 of April 2018. The shelter goal is to provide a temporary shelter for women victims of violences and their children, in order that those families can live safely and receive support to find a long-term solution outside of the shelter.