6TH ANNUAL WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP AND EMPOWERMENT CONFERENCE [WLEC2015​]
1st - 3rd of March 2015, Bangkok, Thailand
Aetas Lumpini Hotel

​WORKSHOP:
Beyond breaking the silence of child sexual abuse: when speaking the truth is not enough.
In the US every two minutes a person is sexually assaulted and every four in Mexico. Women are twice as likely to experience rape as breast cancer. About 90% of abusers are someone the survivor knows. Any act of sexual violence lies with its perpetrator. It is never the survivor´s fault.​One in 4 women, 1 in 6 men and 1 in 4 trans people will be sexually abused during their lifetime, according to the World Health Organization (Direct services providers estimate that the real number is one in three).
​Sexual violence is more than numbers, are names and faces. It is a silent epidemic and it can happen to anyone regardless age, race, gender identity, nationality, class and sexual orientation.
​Mexico & the US statistics reflect the sexual violence situation around the world: few research done and data coming from sources like police reports, clinical numbers and non-governmental organization that doesn´t reflect the heinous reality. Due to the stigma and victim blaming, sexual violence is one of the most under reported crimes.
We need to stop this epidemic that goes from generation to generation. We have to BREAK THE SILENCE to start the healing process in our communities: for the survivors, for the ones that are not here any more and for the ones that sadly are coming. It is through this healing process that we can start contributing to an enduring social change.
WORKSHOP
​Goal:
​Create a safe space to engage participants in a healthy dialogue to explore the myths and social norms that perpetuate sexual violence and be part of the movement that is breaking the silence.
​Facilitators:
Mora Fernández & Mar Aguila - La Casa Mandarina 
​La Casa Mandarina is an itinerant and independent non-profit organization, based in Mexico City, devoted to building a culture of peace by prevent, heal and end sexual and domestic violence using the arts as a tool for social change.
​Session 1
Breaking the silence of sexual violence ​​​
  1. Screening the Documentary Secret Survivors: Using Theater to Break the Silence.
  2. Guided discussion:
  • Power, Privilege and Oppression.
  • Exploring the context: the root causes of gender and sexual violence.
     3. “I have the RIGHT…” Campaign. www.ihavetheright.org

Session 2
Child Sexual Abuse: trauma & aftereffects
  1. Screening the Performance Secret Survivors www.pingchong.org/undesirable-elements/production-archive/secret-survivors/
  2. Guided discussion:
  • Understand the aftereffects of child sexual abuse.
  • Demystify victims and aggressors of sexual violence crimes.
  • Social responsibility to child sexual abuse: the silence and shame must end now.

Session 3
Healing, hope and change
  1. Hope & Healing: beyond surviving the trauma.
  2. Be part of The Monument Quilt! Create your own quilt! www.themonumentquilt.org
The Monument Quilt is a crowd-sourced collection of thousands of stories from survivors of rape and abuse. By stitching our stories together, we are creating and demanding public space to heal and building a new culture where survivors are publicly supported, rather than publicly shamed. Larger than two basketball courts put together, The Monument Quilt was displayed at Queens Museum as part of Force: Upsetting Rape Culture´s summer 12- city tour across the United States. 
​SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE:
Dr. Rosario Arceli - Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies, Philippines
Dr. Mari DeWees - Florida Gulf Coast University, United States of America
Ms. Mora Fernandez - La Casa Mandarina, Mexico
Dr. Nina Sivertsen - Flinders University, Australia
Dr. Kazuko Yokoyama - Toyo Gakuen University, Japa
​CONFERENCE PARTNERS: