In two weeks, Siempre Unidos’ mental health therapist, Ilich (pictured at right), will attend the 2016 Gender-based Violence (GBV) Working Group Meeting in Cape Town, South Africa. He will represent one of 7 organizations in Africa and Latin America recognized as offering an innovative and culturally based intervention to combat violence. The event is sponsored by Episcopal Relief & Development.

Ilich will describe Siempre Unidos’ work with members of the LGBT and Garifuna (African-Caribbean) communities, commercial sex workers, prisoners and people living on less than $2.50/day. He will detail how staff work at the individual, group and societal levels to educate and counsel about violence and report abuses.

Gender-based violence increases the risk of HIV. Studies show that women experiencing intimate partner violence in some parts of the world are 50% more likely to acquire HIV (World Health Organization).

We applaud Ilich and the Siempre Unidos staff for their hard work and the honor of participating in the Cape Town meeting.