Guatemalan Indigenous Women’s Situation Denounced

A report by the Consortium for Sexual and Reproductive Rights platform revealed today over 8 100 cases of sexual violence against indigenous women in the country so far this year.

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The organization's report, entitled "Situation of indigenous and trans indigenous women in the exercise of their sexual and reproductive rights," reflects the demands of Guatemalan indigenous women to guarantee their right to reproductive and ancestral sexual health.

This year 2 143 cases of sexual violence have been reported against indigenous girls under 14 years of age and 8 180 cases for the same cause against indigenous women of all ages, said Silvia Menchú, one of the organization's leaders.

According to the leader, the national budget does not pay attention to the situation of indigenous women. Menchú denounced "the abandonment in which the State of Guatemala has the indigenous population."

We share and echo the voices of the Consortium for the Sexual Rights and Reproductive Rights of women in Guatemala within the framework of the International Day of Indigenous Women.

Menchú said that indigenous Guatemalan women are discriminated against and that only 833 convictions have been made out of the total number of complaints. 

Maternal mortality in this population is estimated at 156 per 100 000 cases, being at 118 per 100 000 cases in the non-indigenous population.

The organization's report quoted the country's Ministry of Health as saying that a total of 2 906 cases of pregnancies in indigenous girls under 14 years of age and 533 births have been recorded over this year's first semester. 

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