New collections from the Latin American Women’s Rights Service

/ southwarkheritage

by Helen Savage, Heritage Officer

Southwark Archives are excited to show you some new digital collections from Latin American Women’s Rights Service. LAWRS are human rights, feminist organisation run by and for Latin American Migrant Women living in the UK. They were founded in 1983 and turn 40 next year. With a centre in Walworth, they carry out activities in and around the local area.  

We look forward to welcoming some women from the group to the archives search room in autumn 2022, when they will deposit some material archives.

From LAWRS website:

“We actively advocate for women’s rights, migrant’s rights and the rights of ethnic minorities at local, national and EU levels. We aim to achieve social change through key projects that bring together members of the community of different age groups for transformative and empowering work.”

Find out more about LAWRS

The images below are part of the new collection, dating from c.2016 – 2018. We look forward to adding more to it soon.

Cover of Sin Fronteras zine c.2016 - 2018
Cover of Sin Fronteras zine c.2016 – 2018
Cover of Warmi zine c.2016 - 2018
Cover of Warmi zine c.2016 – 2018
Cover of Sin Fronteras zine c.2016 - 2018
Cover of Sin Fronteras zine c.2016 – 2018
Page of Zine with collaged postcards on an orange background
Interior page of zine
Page of zine: Importance of space for migrant women It is one of the most under looked matters which affects us. We do not have space. The government should expand and invest in the creation of specific community centres for immigrant women. Like the spaces that are already available for elderly peoples, these should also exist for people in our community. These should be in good condition, to serve as a meeting point for both educational and recreational purposes. To host, dance classes, yoga classes, a communal gym, free English classes for low-resource workers and trainings. A place that can help us enhance some of Personal skills
Interior page of zine
We ore a group of young Latin Americans in search of sociol change, we are leader voices, independent, visible, powerful, and we do not follow any beauty standard. We believe in: Education os a universal human right. Children as the present and future of humanity. Free access to education generates equality in our society. We want to set an example, leave a footprint and speak up for Latin American people and for people from all over the world whose voices are silenced or to whom language is o barrier. We are Sin Fronteras, a collective of crazy free mi nds who want to plant seeds of empathy in people. Somos un grupo de jévenes latinoamericanas que estamos en busca de un combio social, somos voces lideres, independientes, visibles, poderosas, no seguimos eståndares de bel lezo. Creemos en : Lc educociön como un derecho humano universal . Que los nifios son el presente y el futuro. Que el acceso c la educaciön genera igucldod en la sociedod. Queremos dejar un referente, una huella y hacer oir la voz de IQ gente de Latinoamérico, y de todas partes del mundo que sean silenciados o para las que el idioma es una barrera. Somos Sin Fronteras, un colectivo de mentes 11bres y locos que queremos sembrar empatia en las personas .
Interior page of zine
Page of zine: handwritten captions with photographs on blue background
Interior page of zine
Warmi (Mujer) A ctivista R evolucionaria M igrante I nterseccional Somos una colectiva de activistas comunitarias. Somos un grupo de mujeres migrantes latino americanas que se reünen tres veces al mes para compartir y sanar colectivamente. Organizando para acabar con toda forma de violencia en contra de mujeres y niöas y la explotacién laboral. Resistimos el ambiente hostil haciendo talleres, capacitaciones, eventos, salidas Y charlas. iEs tiempo de que seamos duefixs del cambio que queremos ver! iNuestras voces, experiencias y opiniones importan! Contacto: ornella@lawrs.org.uk 0784025622
Poster from outreach events in the local community
Esta cordialmente invitadx a ser parte del lanzamiento de la revasca WARMI Como parte de la campafia reinvindicativa por la mujer limpiadora y trabajadora domestica migrante encontra de la explotacion laboral y violencia de genero en Londres Disfrute de una tarde Ilena de ARTE MUSICA HISTORIAS SOLIDARIDAD LUCHA FECHA 13 de Octubre HORA 2PM - 5PM LUGAR 1 Addington Square, Camberwell, London SES OHF MUJERES LATINOAMERICANAS AL FRENTE DEL CAMBIO SOCIAL
Poster from outreach events in the local community
Language Café Clases informales de inglés GRATIS u •eres latinoamericanas LUNES - llam LAWRS, "El Servicio por los derechos de la mujer Latinoamericana" te invita a participar en un espacio informal y relajado donde puedes aprender y practicar inglés, compartiendo tus experiencias e intereses. (Curso de 2 meses comenzando el lunes 3 de febrero al 30 de marzo). Direcci6n: St Matthews Church, Meadow Row, SEI 6RG. (Elephant & Castle) Informaci6n e inscripciön: 07708133886 WRE . ST MATTHEW'S Council SAN MATEO
Poster from outreach events in the local community
Postcard of woman posing with the iconic Elephant and Castle Elephant: Intertwined by the vibrant colours and Latin rhythms of Elephant and Castle. I dance. I exist.
Postcard of woman posing with the iconic Elephant and Castle Elephant: Intertwined by the vibrant colours and Latin rhythms of Elephant and Castle. I dance. I exist.
Poster: We are fearless youth
Poster: We are fearless youth
Poster: The struggle continues for you Woman.  Don't give up because it is the best time, because you are not alone, because we are with you.
Poster: The struggle continues for you Woman.  Don’t give up because it is the best time,
because you are not alone, because we are with you.
Poster: No matter what your conditions are, we are here for you if you need us
Poster: No matter what your conditions are, we are here
for you if you need us
Women holding long pieces of red, yellow and purple cloth in a woven pattern standing on a green lawn in front of a block of flats
Women holding long pieces of red, yellow and purple cloth casting shadows on the ground
Close up of women holding long pieces of red, yellow and purple cloth in a woven pattern in front of a row of Victorian houses
On Saturday 20 April 2017, LAWRS invited friends and family to take part in a public intervention in Burgess Park. Weaving pieces of fabric played with ideas rooted in South American textile based cultural expressions. The women walked across the park whilst maintaining the weave structure.