Many of the women victims of domestic violence often bear the marks on their bodies. When asked what happened to them, fear means they tend to conceal the truth, inventing excuses like “I fell down the stairs”, “I walked into a door” or “I slipped in the bath”.

Bearing this in mind we conducted a campaign to encourage women in situations of violence to call the “144” national telephone line to seek help and start to talk about what really happened to them.

Many of the women victims of domestic violence often bear the marks on their bodies. When asked what happened to them, fear means they tend to conceal the truth, inventing excuses like “I fell down the stairs”, “I walked into a door” or “I slipped in the bath”.

The “144” is a nationwide telephone line implemented by the government to provide assistance to women in situations of domestic violence

Bathtub

Operator: 911, what is your emergency?

Woman (in a very quiet voice): Hello, I need you to send me some help, please…

Operator: What’s the problem, ma'am?

Woman (a little louder): I’m about to slip in the bathtub. I need help, please…

Operator: Are you actually in the bathtub?

Woman: No, not yet.

Operator: Are you in the bathroom?

Woman (beginning to get anxious): Yes, but my baby’s in the bedroom… I really don’t want to slip…please…

Operator: Don’t worry, madam. Please listen carefully. Don’t get into the bathtub, and slowly walk out of the bathroom…

We hear the baby crying in the background.

Woman (anguished): But my baby’s crying… Please hurry… I don’t want to hurt myself…

Operator: Calm down… you’re going to be ok. Carefully come out of the bathroom…

There is silence, and we hear a baby crying in the background.

Operator: Can you hear me, ma’am?

There is silence, and we hear a baby crying in the background.

Operator: Ma’am?

There is silence, and we hear a baby crying in the background.

Suddenly we hear a door opening violently.

Man: You come over here! See what you force me to do… Shut up!!!

He’s suddenly interrupted by the woman screaming “No! No!” and the line goes dead.

VO: More and more women are slipping in the bathtub, without actually slipping in any bathtub.

If you’re a victim, never protect your abuser and call 144 at any time.

ELA.

Latin American Justice and Gender Team.