11/30/20

By Julie Swift

Day 6 of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence @16dayscampaign

Haznos Valer is a "group of Fronterizo activists who seek to recognize and affirm the dignity of persons at every migration, stage or border. We work through service, dialogue and community life." Part of Haznos Valer's mission is supporting pregnant women at the San Juan Apostol Shelter for Migrant Women. The Center was founded to "confront the migration crisis caused by MPP," a Trump Administration program that forces migrants to remain in Mexico under very dangerous conditions leaving women especially vulnerable to kidnap, assault, rape and human trafficking. Today we feature just one of many stories from Haznos Valer. We will hear more from them in these 16 Days of Action.

Karina Breceda, Shelter Coordinator and Program Developer relays this sad story. "When we showed up to visit at HDLM, Mom had the clothes on her back and one ripped flip flop. And I saw baby like this. It reminded me of the verse "she wrapped him in swaddling clothes". He was wrapped with all she had, her hospital gown. Not an extra gown HER hospital gown. A nurse gave her an after surgery open shirt. And she covered her bottom half with the hospital sheets. In Juarez for migrants there is no receiving blanket with the blue stripes, no little hats, no onesies, no mesh underwear/pads for post partum bleeding, no extra wraps for your c-section scars to take home.

I can tell so many stories of the conditions these families and yes a lot of unaccompanied minors come in. I want life giving communities, support and policies for them on both sides of the border."