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Legislation

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Guatemala is a country that has one of the most prevalent rates of violence against females in the world.[1] Instances of gendered violence in Guatemala include domestic violence, sexual violence, human trafficking, incest, and femicide (the deliberate killing of women). In response to violence against women, the government has passed laws and created agencies in order to stunt the high rates of gendered violence in Guatemala

Procurador de los Derechos Humanos

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In 2008, the Procurador de los Derechos Humanos (Human Rights Ombudsman) was created, which is an agency that operates with the intention of enforcing citizens' cooperation with human rights laws. Despite these efforts made by Guatemala's government, the amount of women who experience gendered violence persists. The ineffectiveness of Procurador de los Derechos Humanos is a result of a multitude of factors including the weakness of the justice system, a lack of clarity surrounding laws made regarding gendered violence, and the absence of free institutions that would aid victims.[2] Despite the intentions of enacting Procurador de los Derechos Humanos, the full potential of its efficiency has not yet been reached.

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More recently, social groups advocating for gender equality in Guatemala helped reform the age at which a girl is able to legally be married. The Angélica Fuentes Foundation and Girl Up (a United Nations youth foundation) together put forth an initiative to change the legal age of marriage in Guatemala from 14 to 18. These advocates had integral roles in the passing of the legislation in January of 2016. The leaders of both The Angélica Fuentes Foundation and Girl Up stated that their main goal of pushing for a higher marriage age was to aid the children in Guatemala.[3] Young girls often would be forced to give up their education and be constricted to a life devoted to marriage, however with the marriage age raised young women would be free to pursue other interests. The leader of The Angélica Fuentes Foundation states that it is her hope that this initiative promotes gender equality and an increase in opportunity for young girls in Guatemala, as well as in other Latin American countries.[4]

  1. ^ "Protecting a Woman's Honor or Protecting Her Sexual Freedom". lap.sagepub.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
  2. ^ "Crimes without punishment: An update on violence against women and impunity in guatemala". search.proquest.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
  3. ^ "Gender Equality Update - Angelica Fuentes and U.N. Girl Up Push Legislation in Guatemala to Change Legal Age of Marriage From 14 to 18 Years Old". pl8cg5fc8w.search.serialssolutions.com. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
  4. ^ "Gender Equality Update - Angelica Fuentes and U.N. Girl Up Push Legislation in Guatemala to Change Legal Age of Marriage From 14 to 18 Years Old". pl8cg5fc8w.search.serialssolutions.com. Retrieved 2016-11-10.