Stop Femicide!

There has been a long struggle, fighting for acknowledgement of the problems of gender inequality and the resulting injustices. The human rights abuses are staggering as women struggle to for "the right to live" in a nation riddled by corruption. The social stratification is such that Guatemala has recently (2009) been recognized by the United Nations to have the greatest gender inequality in the Western Hemisphere. No doubt, a quick survey of the women in Guatemala would have yielded these results. The women who work as street vendors, roll up their sleeves to work in factories, pick vegetables and coffee for plantations, and all the other fields of labor live with this gender inequality every day of their lives. They are well aware of their social status because only do they face inequity in pay and opportunities for education, but they fear for their lives as they literally go to and from work.

It is hard for us to chart the women's movement exactly and precisely. Long battles have been fought for progressive legislation and the femicide law is one example of a success. Also, the relatively new adoption law which curbs intercountry adoption abuses is another important step forward. And there are other examples of symbolic changes, but the fact remains that Guatemala is a dangerous place to be a woman. These women of the Americas risk a disproportionate chance of being beaten, raped, killed, or trafficked into sex and servitude slavery.

We know that the numbers of violence against women in general and specifically femicide still grow in an environment of impunity where law enforcement officals have a lack of will to carry out quality investigations, secure the chain of evidence, and participate in a prosecutory process which yields results. However, there is hope. Recently, a Guatemalan man was convicted to 40 years in prision for the crime of Femicide. This is one bright moment that acknowledges that change is happening slowly. And, if can't happen fast enough for the next victim of femicide.

It is our intent to capture some stories of the women's movement in Guatemala on this page. International Women's day in March will be a focal point as women will once again take to the streets and demand justice.