Continuum of Violence against Women and Girls

This refers to a momentum and continuity of violence throughout women’s lives, where the norm and the constant is violence directed against them, always and everywhere.

In Guatemala, many women of all ages face violence on a daily basis. It is estimated that in 2022, 170 women and girls were assaulted daily as a result of violence against women. The greatest number of women victims of violence against women are in municipalities in the department of Guatemala, in the southwest and the north-central part of the country. There has been a notable rise in women victims in the municipalities of Alta Verapaz. In this department, the proportion of indigenous women is high and so is the number of adolescent pregnancies.

In 2022, at least one woman or girl died violently every day in Guatemala. The rate of violent deaths of women and girls was 4.9 per 100,000 females, which is higher than in 2021 and 2020, but lower than pre-pandemic rates.

Homicides of women were more brutal than those of men. The proportion of cases involving sharp weapons and blunt objects was higher in women, and instances of strangulation are almost double that of men. Firearms were used in almost eight in 10 homicides of women. Young women between 18 and 29 years of age were the main victims of lethal violence.

In Guatemala, reports show a daily average of 19 rapes of women and girls in 2022. Approximately four out of every 10 female victims of rape were adolescents between 13 and 17 years of age.

Throughout the year the National Civil Police received at least four reports a day of missing women and girls. Out of a total of 1,592 missing women or girls on record with the National Civil Police, eight women and girls were no longer alive when located.

Because #NothingJustifies Violence Against Women and Girls is under way for the third consecutive year. UNDP-InfoSegura is moving ahead with the #NothingJustifies Violence Against Women and Girls campaign with its third phase (April to November 2023). This is being done in partnership with the Centre for Women and Youth Research, Training and Support (CICAM) and with the support of USAID. The action plan continues on social media, "Transmit ideas, educate your community and recognize the signs, because Nothing Justifies Violence against Women and Girls," with key messaging on the prevention of violence against women and girls published on social media cards, presented in audio clips, theatre, webinar forums, all awareness-raising and information activities for the population through social media.

Institutional capacity-building work is being done with five institutions: Presidential Secretariat for Women (SEPREM), Office for the Defence of Indigenous Women (DEMI), the National Forensic Science Institute (INACIF), the National Science and Technology Secretariat and the Executive Secretary of the National Coordination for Disaster Reduction (SE–CONRED). The focus is on reinforcing prevention mechanisms and addressing sexual harassment in the workplace as well as victimology and expert services based on a human rights perspective.

These actions add to the efforts to advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, specifically Sustainable Development Goal 16 (SDG16) on peace, justice and strong institutions. This goal pursues the following outcome targets: Stop abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence and torture against children and strengthen national institutions, particularly in developing countries. They also add to SDG 5 on Gender Equality, that establishes that eliminating all forms of violence against all women and girls in both public and private spheres is a priority.

The UNDP is committed to fighting for the right to a life free of violence of women and girls in Guatemala.

Source: Analysis of Violence Against Women Throughout the Life Cycle in Guatemala 2022.