More than 6,200 people murdered in Guatemala in 2008; close to 17 cases per day.
On 10th January 2009, tens of thousands of people participated in a rally called for by the Catholic Church against violence in the capital city of Guatemala, where people are living in a state of fear, according to the Cardinal of Guatemala City.
In support of this statement, La Prensa, Guatemala’s most respected daily newspaper, recently published a survey where 94 percent of interviewees were more afraid of violence today than during the armed conflict that had torn the country apart from 1960 to 1996.
More than 10,000 cases of sexual violence were reported to the Ministerio Publico in 2008, with 4,600 of these cases occurring in the districts where MSF works. “We are working in the most violent zones of the country, especially in zones 7 and 18 on the outskirts of the city”, says Fabio Forgione, MSF director of operations in Guatemala. “Here, we offer medical and psychological support to survivors of sexual violence.”
The streets are dangerous for all Guatemalans, but women, most often the victims of sexual violence, are even under threat in their own homes. Most rapes happen here, committed by family members or acquaintances. “Women are in most cases not aware that they are victims. The culture of machismo and the suppression of women can even lead to feelings of guilt. They often withdraw their complaint as it has little chance of being heard”, explains Forgione.
The impunity shown towards those who commit these crimes is almost total and is one of the major issues that brought people to the streets at the beginning of January. “MSF doesn’t focus on the legal system. Our main concern is to explain to the public, and especially to potential victims, that rape is a medical emergency. They have to be protected against sexually transmitted diseases, they have the opportunity to be treated by a psychologist and, most of all, they have to seek help immediately”, Forgione points out.
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MSF’s programme was launched in 2007. By the end of last year, more than 80 victims have been treated every month.