Stop Femicide!

Norma Cruz was named person of the year(2009), in Guatemala and she was one of eight women in the world to received a "Woman of Courage" award from the US Department of State in 2009.

Cruz will visit the USA for a speakers tour with the Guatemala Human Rights Commission and hosting campus oganizations, to include Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Central Florida in addition to other locations. More information about Cruz's schedule, during the first week of March, will be posted soon.

Another Human Rights Defender

Sandra Moran, who returned to Guatemala after years in exile in the US during the 36-year armed conflict, represents the historical memory of Guatemalan women who first fought for inclusion with men in the peace process. She reminds us how indigenous and Mestiza women across the county came together, not only the famous ones, and ultimately were the key engineers of the peace accords and the reconciliation process. From this history, and with our support, our delegation believes we have some basis of hope for Guatemalan women. Sandra Moran reminded us that Guatemalan women are interested in building, not in struggling against something.  Our power and wealth and rising concern for human rights gives us the opportunity to support  Guatemalan women’s efforts to reform judicial systems, build domestic violence shelters, protect their workers, educate their girls, and provide opportunities for creative expression  they are more than ready to build their own future.  This future will not be built, as Sandra reminded us, only with struggles against narcotics trafficking or corruption.

Survivors Foundation in Guatemala City is one of many non-governmental organizations engaged in change. Co-founded by Norma Cruz, the organization focuses on violence against women services include psycho-social interventions and policy advocacy, including legal assistance to victims.

Unfortunately, this work is dangerous as the advocates/social workers/human rights workers of Survivors Foundation and other organizations in Guatemala live with threats on a daily basis. Norma Cruz herself has lived with death threats and under duress as a human rights defender.