‘Don’t condemn women to live in violence’ | Amnesty's global human rights blog

‘Don’t condemn women to live in violence’ | Amnesty's global human rights blog:

 By Esther Major, Amnesty International researcher on Central America

“This is the last day of your life”, said Reina María’s ex-partner as he walked into her house in February this year, holding a machete in his hand.

After he attacked her with the blade, he left her for dead, bleeding on the floor as her two children, aged five and nine, ran to get help from a neighbour.

Fortunately, Reina María survived. When I met her this week, she showed me the long, deep scars across her arm, shoulder and the back of her neck.

Although her ex-partner is the person who wielded the machete, the Nicaraguan state is responsible for leaving Reina María at risk of attack for over a year.