Who is my hero? Centro Mujeres
My two heroes are Centro Mujeres founders, Teresa Sheilds, H.A.S. and Dra. Monica Jasis.
When I first met Teresa and Monica in 1999, I was instantly attracted to their cause and more impressed to meet true modern day activists and women pioneers! Teresa and Monica both devote their lives and countless hours to helping women and children facing incredible obstacles on a daily basis. (I love these gals)
Basic Human Rights are something most of us take for granted.
Centro Mujeres was founded in October of 1994 in response to the growing burden on women and adolescents as a result of increasing public health problems in the state of Baja California Sur. Over the last 17 years Centro Mujeres has become a respected voice for women on a local, national and international level: providing preventative community health care services, youth leadership programs, training community professionals, handing out free condoms, carrying out research, working in public policy, advocating to END the rampant child sex trade and STANDING UP for the well being of all women and children.
Centro Mujeres is the only service of this kind for women in Baja. Due to changing priorities of international foundations Centro Mujeres is losing critical funding. WE MUST HELP.
On June 2011, Centro Mujeres played a key role in defeating the citizen’s initiative that makes abortion illegal. This bill was the first of its kind to be defeated in Mexico. This has national significance because the passing of the bill would have opened the door to reforms of Mexico’s Carta Magna repealing hard on health rights of women. I believe all women have the right to choose, which means access to a safe and legal abortion.
As a reminder that in 1973:
Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973),[1] was a landmark controversial decision by the United States Supreme Court on the issue of abortion. The Court decided that a right to privacy under the due process clause in the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution extends to a woman's decision to have an abortion.
Also, DID YOU KNOW that until 2007, in Mexico, there were no laws in place to protect women from being beaten by their spouse? After years and years of advising key decision makers in the Mexican Government, Teresa Shields and Monica Jasis, have helped change the future for all women in Baja California Sur. AND soon after, other Mexican states adopted these laws too!
After 9/11 the government made it nearly impossible for Corporate America to donate to foreign charities. Most funding from the USA is now being stopped. Support them now by making a donation. Just click on their web site www.centromujeres.org
Please help spread awareness and give a little. Donations can be done several ways - on-line via PayPal is just one way. Even $10.00 helps go a long way!