Murders of Women and Girls in Guatemala, Human Trafficking Addressed in Resolutions

On March 27, the House Foreign Affairs Committee approved, by voice vote, a resolution (H. Res. 100) concerning the murders of women and girls in Guatemala since 2001.

Sponsored by Rep. Hilda Solis (D-CA), the resolution contains a number of findings, including:

since 2001, more than 2,000 women and girls have been murdered in Guatemala, often preceded by abduction, sexual assault, or brutal mutilation;
the number of murders of Guatemalan women and girls has increased significantly from 303 in 2001 to more than 500 in 2006;
the manner and rate of murders of Guatemalan women and girls suggests an increase in gender-based killings, an extreme form of violence against women that can include torture, mutilation, and sexual violence;
the Guatemalan Special Prosecutor for Crimes Against Women, in her statements regarding the Guatemalan murder cases, reported that her office has reviewed approximately 800 reports of domestic violence per month, with some of those cases ending in murder;
in June 2006, the Government of Guatemala successfully abolished the ‘Rape Law,’ which had absolved perpetrators of criminal responsibility for rape and certain other crimes of violence upon the perpetrator’s marriage to the victim; and
the Government of Guatemala has created special police and prosecutorial units to address the brutal murders of Guatemalan women and girls.H. Res. 100 expresses sympathy for the families of the victims, condemns the murders, and urges the Guatemalan government to prosecute those responsible for the crimes and to recognize domestic violence and sexual harassment as criminal acts. Additionally, the resolution recommends that the secretary of State create a plan to “combat the growing problem of violence against women in Latin America.”
“I am pleased that the Foreign Affairs Committee approved this resolution. Families of victims deserve honest answers and investigations into the murders of their wives, mothers and daughters instead of being ignored and intimidated,” Rep. Solis said in a press statement. “H. Res. 100 will raise awareness of the growing murder rate of women and girls in Guatemala, and increase the international pressure that is needed to stop the violence against women in that country.”

The committee also approved, by voice vote, a resolution (H. Res. 158) commemorating the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the British slave trade. The resolution notes that an estimated 600,000 to 800,000 people were trafficked across international borders in 2006 and an estimated 12 million people worldwide are held in forced labor, bonded labor, and sexual servitude. The resolution condemns all forms of human trafficking and slavery and encourages Americans to work against human trafficking. The committee approved, by voice vote, an amendment sponsored by Chair Tom Lantos (D-CA) that encourages the American people to combat slavery in all its forms and promotes education on the need to recognize trafficked individuals as victims, not criminals.