Luz Maria Utrera an Advocate for Survivors of Domestic Violence, Founder of Fundación Luz María.

You are changing lives in many ways. You are an Attorney and the Founder of Fundación Luz María. Has helping others always been your passion?

World peace and international cooperation are my core beliefs. I believe that the global community has huge potential to address human rights if we all work together.

I am passionate about helping others and became more focused on helping women after surviving domestic abuse and creating the Fundación Luz María. The foundation works to bring awareness to domestic abuse locally in Argentina and globally with the United Nations. Through the foundation and as an attorney in Argentina, I was able to provide legal service to survivors.

I hope to inspire future generations to believe that they can operate in a world with freedom and justice. We must demonstrate to future generations that the possibility for peace exists and that we are willing to create that future with them. Our communities will be stronger across the world when our women and children are empowered! While my work is mostly focused on empowering women, I fight for worldwide harmony.

As an Advocate for survivors of domestic violence. What are some of your initiatives?

We have been working tirelessly with the United Nations, globally promoting the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. We have partnerships with the food bank and distribute food to different localities in the city of Santiago del Estero.

In order to stop domestic violence, governments and regulatory bodies must promote programs and policies which empower women economically. Economic dependence can often lead women to stay in situations of domestic violence which might ultimately end their lives. Micro-lending programs that encourage women to use their existing skill sets to develop economic independence have seen huge success across nations and cultures and should continue to be promoted.

Tell us about the Fundación Luz María.

The Foundation is based upon the principle that action against gender-based violence must take place at the micro and macro level, given that systemic change cannot take place without individual actions, and an individual’s actions cannot change without systemic transformation. Given this reality, the Luz Maria Foundation fights on the ground level to support survivors of domestic abuse and also through legislative change. Additionally, we organize many events to create awareness at the local and global levels. We partner with organizations to promote international cooperation, and to encourage initiatives that can allow a more prosperous world.

You were recently chosen from 5,000 applicants from around the world to serve as a UN Women Global Champion of Change. What does this mean to you?

When I founded Luz Maria Foundation, it was with the intention of helping domestic violence victims regain their emotional, social, and financial strength. As a UN Women global Champion of change has helped me reconnect with that mission. Therefore, it is an honor to be selected as a UN Women Champions of Change, and to work alongside women ending violence, economic and political empowerment, advancing peace, security and humanitarian response, and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. This journey has been extremely powerful and fulfilling, I feel incredibly blessed daily to be a part of something so beautiful and powerful, as well as to be included in the fight for a better, more wholesome and just world. Not to mention, how gratifying it is to be nominated from over 5,000 applicants to represent UN Women and my mission alongside some of the world’s top women leaders. I truly believe that, at the end of the day, we all have the opportunity to push for positive change and I’m just grateful that I have such an amazing support system to make change happen. It is clear to see, with every step and milestone, we fuel the passion that gives voice to our mission statements and core beliefs. As Champions, we do our best to raise awareness and give women the right resources to achieve their goals. Every time we work together on this cause we make a dent on the issue, impacting thousands of lives as a result.

What are the services or programs that the Fundación Luz María offers?

The Fundación Luz María signs agreements to promote, defend, and disseminate DDHH (human rights) for women, children, and adolescents. We work together with other human rights NGOs to create awareness about domestic violence in order to make a better and safer world for all.

The foundation aims to utilize access to platforms and resources to give a voice to the voiceless, develop strong ties with affected communities, and work tirelessly to prevent domestic violence, as well as empower women who have been affected.

Ending domestic violence is not just about getting women away from abusive men, it is also about enabling economic freedom, ensuring access to education, and promoting food stability. It is for this reason that the Luz Maria Foundation has been working with the local food bank in my hometown of Santiago del Estero in order to promote women’s well-being. The foundation has been partnering with a variety of organizations as well, in order to deliver resources to women who face adversity due to domestic violence.

https://www.luzmariafoundation.org/