Former Senator Susan Tucker, State Senator Barry Finegold, YWCA Vilma Lora, YWCA Mary O’Brien, Minou Tavarez Mirabal, YWCA Margaret Crockett, YWCA Rebecca A. Hall, Mayor Willie Lantigua.

Minou Taváraz Mirabal Speaks About DV at the YWCA

Mayor William Lantigua, State Senator Barry Finegold, Representative David Torrisi and former State Senator Susan Tucker were among the more than 90 guests who greeted Dominican Republic Congresswoman Minou Tavárez Mirabal at the YWCA of Greater Lawrence’s reception Tuesday, March 1st as part of their work to promote social justice and eliminate violence against women locally, nationally and worldwide. 

Deputy Tavárez Mirabal spoke on the topic of global gender violence and political violence against women, as well as shared some urgent actions that can be implemented to combat this social ill.  Among the suggested urgent actions, she highlighted the need for country governments at all levels—national, state and local--to adequately fund violence against women efforts, as this is the only way they can accurately reflect that gender violence is truly a priority.  Deputy Tavárez Mirabal also highlighted the need for stronger legislative efforts and increased accountability for perpetrators worldwide, as well as expressed the need for female representation in the political arena, particularly in congress.

Partnering with Northern Essex Community College and The Brooks School, the YWCA brought Ms. Tavárez to the United States in celebration of International Women’s Day as part of The White Fund speaker’s series.

At the night-time reception hosted at YWCA Fina House, Ms. Tavárez spoke about situations of gender and political violence, as well as shared strategies for how both men and women could answer the call-to-action to share the vision in helping to eradicate violence against women wherever it occurs.

Ms. Vilma Lora, YWCA Co-Director of Women’s Services, served to introduce Ms. Tavárez to guests, as well as spoke about her own commitment – both personally and professionally – to eradicating violence against women.  According to the Massachusetts Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 30 women were murdered in 2010 as a result of a domestic violence incident, up 3% over 2009.

Serving as a Congress Member in the Dominican Republic, Ms. Tavárez speaks in her native county and globally against violence toward women.  She is the daughter of Minerva Mirabal, one of the famed Mirabal Sisters who was brutally slain in 1960 under the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo.  An accomplished and much sought after speaker, Ms. Tavárez has a Masters Degree in Social Management and serves on several committees in the Dominican Republic.  Ms. Tavárez is married and the mother of two children.

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