A new chapter is beginning for two indigenous girls who were victims of sexual abuse in schools in Cobán, Guatemala. After several years of waiting, they were finally heard by Guatemalan justice on 21 June and 9 July.
Like a hundred other girls, they denounce the treatment inflicted by a teacher or administrative employee working at their school.
Lawyers Without Borders Canada and the Centre for International Studies and Cooperation have been supporting civil society organizations since 2018 to ensure their access to justice. Among them is the Bufete de Derechos Humanos con Enfoque Feminista (BJDHEF), which represents the two victims.
“We are convinced that there can be no democracy without an end to violence against girls, adolescents and women; that the justice system cannot evolve as long as impunity persists. For these reasons, we must demand justice tirelessly.”
Liliann Ninneth Vásquez Pimentel, Director of the BJDHEF
The opening of these two trials is a decisive outcome. They are paving the way for other victims in their difficult quest for justice, an important step in the fight against impunity for this type of crime, which is common in the Alta Verapaz region.
A silent epidemic
Throughout Guatemala, voices have been raised to denounce the lack of security in schools. At the heart of the problem: sexual violence.
Between 2015 and 2020, the Public Prosecutor’s Office registered nearly 1,000 complaints against teachers. One every other day, on average.
“Our experience shows that the scars of victims of sexual violence are much deeper than their skin can tell. They looked hell in the face and survived. It is for them and all others that we do this, that we strive for a more humane and feminist justice.”
The absence of administrative procedures to punish these crimes and the lack of credibility given to the convictions obtained contribute to further degrading the already precarious situation of female students.
Moreover, the sex offender register reveals that several teachers who had been convicted of sexual crimes had still not been dismissed, but rather transferred to administrative posts.
The DEMUJERES project aims to strengthen protections against gender-based sexual violence. No girl or adolescent should have to fight for their suffering to be heard.
In action
Follow live achievements of our teams in the field.
;
La Cour de justice de la @ecowas_cedeao envoie un signal contradictoire dans sa décision concernant des cas de violences sexuelles liées aux conflits armés perpétrées à Gao, au #Mali.
Notre réaction et celle de notre partenaire @cridecoeurmali:
📰 https://asfcanada.ca/medias/cjcedeao-jugement-gao-mali-violences-sexuelles-conflits-armes-signal-contradictoire/
2023 a vu les besoins redoubler. Conflits armés; crises humanitaires; changements climatiques; effritement de l’État de droit. #Budget2024 fait sa part.
Nous nous joignons à +100 orgs pour accueillir ce nouvel investissement. Un futur durable demande un engagement à long terme.
Nous y serons! 👇
Soyez-y aussi pour y découvrir comment le droit peut être utilisé pour autonomiser les victimes de violences sexuelles, des leçons tirées de nos expériences et celles de nos partenaires en #Afrique.
@MdMCanada @sante_mondiale @vuesdafrique @WalBru_QC
Our partners show, on a daily basis, that justice is still possible in #Haiti. The needs are great. So is what can be achieved. This article is a reminder to not give up hope.
@etiennecp @CanadaDev @CanEmbHaiti @CanadianAid
Nos partenaires démontrent quotidiennement que justice est encore possible en #Haïti. Les besoins sont grands. Les possibles le sont tout autant. Cet article est une invitation à ne pas perdre espoir.
@etiennecp @DevCanada @AmbCanHaiti @CanadianAid
Une rencontre chaleureuse entre notre partenaire #CEPROSAF, l'ambassadrice @efwilliams1 et Pascal Médieu de la @EmbCanCRHNNI🇨🇦, pour parler de leur travail de promotion et défense des droits sexuels et reproducifs des femmes ♀️ au #Honduras🇭🇳.