The Observatory at the International Congress “Dialogues of Hope”

On December 2 and 3, 2025, the WUCWO's World Women’s Observatory (WWO) participated in the International Congress “Dialogues of Hope: Reconciliation and Care for a Life Free from Violence,” held at the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador (PUCE) in Quito. The event, organised by the Jesuit Refugee Service Ecuador (JRS), PUCE, and the Jesuit Migrants Network, took place within the framework of November 25 and the 16 Days of Activism for the Elimination of Violence against Women, bringing together academics, community leaders, social organisations, and women survivors of violence and human mobility from across the region.

The World Women’s Observatory (WWO) had a significant participation through Ma. de Lourdes Espinoza, Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean of WUCWO, who was invited by Belén Carrillo, Director of JRS Ecuador, to take part in the regional panel dedicated to the situation of migrant and refugee women in Latin America and the Caribbean. Her presence made it possible to highlight the WWO’s commitment to women in contexts of mobility, as well as the findings, lessons learned, and impacts of the projects currently being carried out in the region.

Voice of the WWO in the Regional Panel

During her presentation, Ma. de Lourdes Espinoza shared the progress made by the WWO in research and accompaniment of migrant women, especially those facing gender-based violence, discrimination, and situations of legal vulnerability along their migration routes. Through the presentation “Sharing the Results of the Observatory: The Situation of Migrant and Refugee Women in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC),” she emphasised the importance of listening to and documenting women’s testimonies, understanding their experiences, and strengthening mechanisms for access to justice, psychosocial support, and the construction of dignified and safe life projects. She also highlighted the value of testimonies collected in Mexico and other countries in the region, as well as the training and awareness-raising actions promoted by WUCWO to foster more supportive and protective communities for women on the move.

The first day of the congress included in-depth academic and testimonial spaces, such as the keynote lecture on the State’s ius puniendi in cases of femicide, panels on feminicides and violence in the region, and analyses of the context faced by migrant women in Ecuador, Peru, and other countries. One of the most meaningful moments was the participation of Anamari Mazorra from the Faculty of Philosophical and Theological Sciences of PUCE, with her lecture “The Ethics of Care,” which invited reflection on the ethical responsibility of accompanying human fragility with empathy, presence, and dignity.

The congress also incorporated community spaces of strong symbolic value, such as a ritual honoring women survivors, the performance of the play El Diario de Gianella, and women’s circles that recognized the power of sorority as a path toward healing. The second day focused on experiences of accompaniment and violence prevention, including the sharing of the Sorority Groups from El Oro and Guayas, experiences from shelters and community networks, and the strengthening of spiritual accompaniment rooted in hospitality.

Strengthening Alliances

The participation of the WWO reaffirms its mission to listen to, understand, and make visible the realities of women in human mobility, promoting concrete actions that foster justice, peace, and dignity. The presence of Ma. de Lourdes Espinoza not only enriched regional dialogue but also strengthened alliances with institutions committed to the protection and integral accompaniment of women.

This gathering at PUCE thus stands as a space of reflection, advocacy, and hope, where academia, civil society, faith-based organisations, and communities come together to build safe and violence-free pathways for all women, especially those in transit, displacement, or situations of vulnerability. The WWO renews its commitment to continue generating knowledge, advocacy, and coordination to contribute to a more humane, just, and supportive region for migrant and refugee women.

This text has been translated with the help of Artificial Intelligence