WUNRN
Global Fund for Women
Mónica
Roa was in a meeting when the power went out in the Bogotá office of Women’s
Link Worldwide. Someone fired shots through the window and shards of glass fell
on her head. Though Mónica and her colleagues were not hurt, it was only the
latest in a series of attacks against Women’s Link Worldwide for their efforts
to implement the
"It is very
scary to stop and think about what’s truly happening to cause people to target
me, to shoot at me and at the office, and to accuse me of promoting genocide in
a country in which violence is part of the daily life," said Mónica,
Director of Programs at Women’s Link Worldwide.
Mónica was a new
lawyer when she decided to use the judicial system for social change and start
Global Fund grantee, Women’s Link Worldwide. The death threats started
afterwards and the State had to provide her with bodyguards. That was seven
years ago, and she’s been living with bodyguards ever since. The Bogotá office
has been broken into and computers stolen three times and on several occasions,
human excrement has been left outside their office.
In
“People now think of the law as a tool
for change rather than a tool of oppression”
– Mónica Roa, Director of Programs at Women’s Link Worldwide.
In a historic decision
this year, the
Among such false
information was the claim that emergency contraception, or the morning after
pill, was an abortive agent, even though scientists from the World Health
Organization, amongst others, have made it clear that it is a contraceptive and
does not induce abortion. Additionally, the
"As
citizens, we have to be able to trust the information provided to us by
representatives of the State, and even more so when it comes from the
Procuraduría, which is the institution responsible for ensuring the full
protection of human rights in Colombia," wrote Mónica Roa in a press release.
While the
Women's
Link Worldwide staff in
"If women’s
rights defenders don’t take care of the threats and don’t manage to vindicate
their own rights, then we are sending a message to the women we usually defend
that there’s no hope to make this a priority," said Mónica.
The
"People now
think of the law as a tool for change rather than a tool of oppression," said
Mónica. "Most people get recognitions after they are dead. I am able to be
proud and witness the impact on my country and in the world."
When Mónica is
invited to speak about Women’s Link Worldwide and the importance of human
rights law, she sees young people share her same passion. In fact, Women’s Link
Worldwide trains young lawyers to be "radical activist attorneys." At
36, Monica is the second oldest lawyer on staff.
"One has to
be proud of the work we are doing. There are a few people in the world who are
strong enough and brave enough to take these risks for a cause that is greater
than we are, and the results are going to effect so many people that it is
worth it," said Mónica.