Produced in partnership with American Jewish World Service.

Teresa married her husband when she was 19. They had six children and lived on four acres of farmland nestled in the mountains.

For 30 years, she suffered his relentless abuse. He molested all three of their daughters, often waking up at night to rape them as they slept.

But for a long time, Teresa was afraid to challenge her husband. In the community of San Rafael, people tend to believe that women consent to sexual abuse, and many villagers said that Teresa had condoned the rapes of her own daughters. Terrified of what might happen if she spoke out, she remained with her husband as the violence persisted. She had no means to support herself independently, as her home and land were registered in her husband’s name.

One day, Teresa was listening to the radio and heard about an organization called the Association of Entrepreneurial Women of Waslala (AMEWAS)—a Nicaraguan grassroots group supported by AJWS that seeks to decrease violence against women, girls and youth by educating women about their rights, promoting gender equality and expanding women’s access to the judicial system.

AMEWAS supported Teresa to press charges against her husband, and in 2011, he was sentenced to 12 years of prison. They were also able to transfer the title of the property to her. Thankfully, Teresa and her children now live on their land independently, without the threat of violence.

Directed and Produced by Evan Abramson and Carmen Elsa Lopez
Edited by Evan Abramson and Carmen Elsa Lopez
Cinematography by Evan Abramson
Commissioned by American Jewish World Service

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