Since 2000, I’ve been a peer educator in a non-governmental organization that works on issues of sexual and reproductive health and which is affiliated with the International Planned Parenthood Federation. My research focuses on domestic violence against women and corporal punishment in the education system.

There is domestic violence in every society, especially against women, but it’s not easy for women to talk about it. Women don’t understand their rights. The challenge is to make people realize that it’s not natural to be a target of violence.

Violence against women reflects the way our society is built, so in order to address this problem, all members of society have to be involved, men and women, as well as youth, who can be empowered to bring these discussions back to their families. There are signs of progress. As people understand that this issue doesn’t belong to their family alone, they are encouraged to denounce cases of domestic violence. I feel that my work has a result when people realize that they were targets of violence, often from someone they love, and that this was not good behavior, that it has to change.

After I finish law school, I want to become a professor and create research groups to spread our message to all persons, regardless of their social condition. By fighting for women’s rights, I fight for my rights, because we’re all connected.

Law Student and Peer educator
Member, Global Student Leadership program, Manhattanville College