Guatemala Human Rights Commission/USA

Femicides Go Unpunished
Lack of Efforts to Stop Violence Against Women Criticized

Samuel Flores
Translated by Caroline McGee

La Hora
August 3, 2006

With the presentation of 2,400 postcards, leaders of humanitarian organizations raised their voices against the femicides in Guatemala that have thrown thousands of families into mourning. The postcards contained messages from United States citizens who object to the violence against women taking place in Guatemala.

The Guatemala Human Rights Commission/USA (GHRC) criticized the poor results of investigations carried out by the National Civil Police, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, and the judiciary. These investigations were intended to clarify more than two thousand cases of women murdered in Guatemala. GHRC cited a murder that took place in Guatemala City as an example.

Honduran citizen Deysi Noemí Borja died after being shot eight times while at a liquor store located in Zone 4 of Guatemala City. According to GHRC leaders, this is yet another case that will remain unsolved due to the lack of action taken by the Guatemalan institutions in charge of criminal prosecution.

Carmen Camey, the spokesperson for GHRC, also noted the lack of shelters for women and children who are victims of violence. Worried by the impunity that surrounds the cases of abuse and torture, Camey stated that, “The judicial system in Guatemala is criticized for dropping charges against criminals if they agree to marry the female victim and for failing to punish those responsible for domestic violence.”

GHRC recommended the construction of shelters, employment opportunities, and psychological treatment for the relatives of the victims. They demanded that the criminals in these cases be brought to justice and that the laws outline appropriate standards to punish the abusers. GHRC also displayed an exhibit of post cards, as part of a campaign to raise awareness of and combat violence against women.

 

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