As many of you know, I have been on a Mission trip to Guatemala in 2003 and during the past years I have been an advocate for the victims of domestic violence (whether they are men or women). While on my mission trip, I had the opportunity to speak with Churches and other programs that were springboarding to help aid women who were being in domestic violence situations and trying to bring about a change in the social networks and programs to become stronger advocates for the women involved in domestic violence situations.
Disturbing, though, is a burlb I read tonight in the Ms. Magazine (Fall 2005 issue) on pg. 32 under their "Dispatches Global" section about various advocacies around the world. The focus of this particular blurb though is about the Guatemalan women:
"At least 247 women were violently murdered in the first six monght of this year [remainder that this blurb was written in 2005], adding to the 527 women killed in 2004, according to a recent Amnesty International report. The percentage of women slaughterered in Guatemala over the past three years has grown from 4.5 percent of all homicides (2002) to 12.1 percent (2004). As with the murders of women in Mexico, authorities have denied any problem. Amnesty charges state 'incompetence and discrimination' that 'fuels impunity and thereby sends a message that the crimes are acceptable.' Only 9 percent of the 1,188 murders registered in the country between 2001 and 2004 have been investigated; many showed evidence of sexual assault. Though officials refer to the victims as 'gang members' or 'prostitutes,' Amnesty indicated that among the victims were homemakers, students, and professionals from 13-40 years of age, plus many domestic employees, shop or factory workers, and migrant laborers."
With domestic violence, here in the United States, being attributed to 1/3 of all homicides, one has to wonder how much of the murders of women in Guatemala are also due to domestic violence. It would be interesting to me, as a criminal justice student and domestic violence advocate, to know this. I would also like to see some more current stats on this.
If anyone has studied the history of Guatemala, one knows that they had a 36 year civil war up until a few years ago and there are many clandestine graves that remain there to this day from many senseless killings.
When, oh when, will the senseless murders stop???
