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This is the site of Casa Amiga Crisis Center A.C., a civil, non-governmental,
non-profit association, without ideological or religious affiliation. We are a team
of professionals, dedicated to promote a culture of total
respect towards the physical, emotional, and spiritual integrity of people,
especially the women and children of our community, who should be able to achieve the
complete development of their human potentials.
Our task focuses on designing, developing, and implementing actions that prevent
and intervene. Moreover we offer psychological, legal and medical help for
people who suffered violent situations in all its specific forms as well as help
to their family members. We offer the following free and confidential services:
• Psychological counsel
• Legal counsel
• Prevention and social work
Our background goes back to 1992, when the NGO “8 de Marzo” was founded in
Ciudad Juárez.
In 1993 “8 de Marzo”, the Gender Studies Department at Autonomous University of
Ciudad Juárez and the Independent Committee of Human Rights in Chihuahua
started the registration of newspaper articles about crimes committed towards
women at our border. Subsequently eleven groups united themselves to form the
Coordination of NGOs whose mission was to defend the security and integrity of
women.
In 1998 the CNN journalist Brian Barger visits the town to write an article. After
various interviews all agreed that something should be done for the
survivors of violence, and against misogyny and assassinations of women.
In November 1998 we rented a house and to our surprise we saw that victims
started to arrive. Our center was officially inaugurated on February 9, 1999
with the support of the Border Fund, Laurie Paternoster and Mr. Turot
(Whataburger).
The town council of Ciudad Juárez through Ing. Gustavo Elizondo offered to
contribute with 30.000 Pesos a month, but it took until March when the council
approved the financial help. During this month a Psychologist and a Social
worker was hired, so at the beginning we were only two people.
At present, under the direction of Esther Chávez Cano, founder of Casa Amiga
Crisis Center A.C., we consist of an interdisciplinary team of professional
competencies: one coordinator of the psychological team, four psychologists, one
coordinator of social work, one coordinator of prevention, who is also
responsible for volunteers, one coordinator of the women shelter, some legal
advisors, one administrator, one pedagogue, and one receptionist.
On this site we present ourselves to you and provide general information about
our mission, vision, personnel, services, statistics, investigations and other
sections of interest. We are pleased to welcome you and to make you participate
in this noble project.
Welcome!
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