Last week, Harvey Weinstein, former Hollywood media mogul and now convicted rapist was found guilty of a first degree criminal sexual act and of third-degree rape, with six women testifying against him in the New York trial. For decades, this predator used his position and influence to take advantage of women, causing untold trauma and subduing his victims into silence. At least 100 other women also came forward with stories of abuse at the hands of Weinstein, and he still faces other charges in California.
This verdict is a step forward in demonstrating that rapists and abusers - even those in the highest positions of power in our society - can and will be held accountable for their heinous crimes. Alianza Nacional de Campesinas joins the many people across the country expressing their gratitude to the brave women who came forward to testify against Weinstein. We are thinking of and standing with every person who has experienced abuse in their lives.
One in three women and girls will experience sexual or physical violence in their life, and this reality demonstrates the pervasiveness of this issue and how much more progress we need in ensuring justice for all survivors of abuse. It is a traumatizing experience for people who are able to and choose to come forward. According to RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization, only 230 out of every 1,000 sexual assaults are reported to police; that means about 3 out of 4 go unreported. Of rape cases that go to trial, only 2 percent result in a conviction; 995 out of 1000 perpetrators will go free. We must continue to build consciousness among all sectors of our society so that survivors can seek help and justice without being revictimized or have their experiences minimized.
We are a national grassroots movement of campesinas, for campesinas and by campesinas, advocating for the civil, constitutional and human rights of campesinas. The hundreds of thousands of farmworker women (campesinas) and girls that Alianza Nacional de Campesinas represents are among the most vulnerable and at risk for sexual assault and rape because they work in isolated areas and often fear losing their jobs or children if they speak out against their abusers. Thus, violence against women, including sexual assault, has been a major priority for Alianza’s members since its founding, influenced by the critical work and mobilization of campesinas, domestic workers, restaurant workers and other low-wage employees that since that late 1980’s have spearheaded the movement to end violence against women.
Every year, our fifteen member organizations participate in the V-Day and 1 Billion Rising global movement events to end violence against women and girls. In 2017, our members played a critical role in sparking the creation of what is now known as the TIME’S UP Movement. In partnership with Eve Ensler and V-Day, we initiated the Campesinas Rising campaign in 2019 to engage farmworker women across the nation, creating safe spaces in agricultural communities and spreading awareness about this issue. We take action during Sexual Assault Prevention Month in April, working in the cultural context of our communities to facilitate trainings, present resources and bring about dialogues crucial for making a change. Throughout the year we organize hundreds of meetings to take action on this issue, because we want women and girls to know that they are not alone and there is hope. The #MeToo and TIME’S UP movements are only the beginning.
As we celebrate and stand behind the brave Silence Breakers of the last few years, we ask that society not forget these vulnerable women who don’t work under bright stage lights, but under the blazing sun, in harsh and dangerous working conditions, including exposure to pesticides that harm their reproductive health. Women who often lack the access to the representation they need to escape abusive situations or to hold their abusers accountable. Alianza will continue working to increase awareness and support policy changes that help empower survivors, so they will be believed and not afraid to come forward. We walk united in the struggle for healing and justice, raising our collective consciousness and demanding: Alto a la violencia; ni una mas. Stop the violence; not one more.