To date, 690 women have been murder victims this year in Guatemala. This staggering number is a shameful reminder of the state of institutionalized violence against women in Guatemala. Importantly, during the sentencing of Rios Montt for genocide, the judges declared that rape and violence against women were used to break down the social fabirc of society and to end Maya Ixil existance. Violence against women was systematic and highly militarized; this legacy continues now into 2013. Today, Guatemala continues to struggle to end violence against women, and organizations speak out against the ongoing feminicide.

Read Helen Knott’s blog on November 25, the International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women. Helen is a Cree, Dane Zaa, and English woman currently in her last year of studies for a Bachelors of Social Work. Recently, she participated as a Kairos delegate in the United Church of Canada-Kairos Guatemala Study Tour examining the impacts of Canadian mining in Guatemala. Members of the United Church pension plan have launched a divestment campaign from Goldcorp Inc. based on the negative human rights impacts that have been reported since the mine opened in 2005. See Helen’s video messages – Helen1 Helen 2.

Check out more videos to mark the 16 Days of Action to End Violence Against Women:

Angelica Choc (español), plaintiff in Choc vs. Hudbay, a historic case seeking justice for the murder of Adolfo Ich, an indigenous Qeqchi community leader, who, according to eye-witness testimony, was murdered by Hudbay Minerals security in September 2009.

Nelly Rivera (español), Nelly2,works with CEICOM – The Business and Investment Research Centre (Centro de Invesitagación sobre Inversion y Comercio)- in El Salvador and the Radio Güija community radio initiative to protect the natural resources put at risk by the Goldcorp Cerro Blanco mining project.

Ana Maria (español), indigenous Maya Qeqchi woman and leader from El Estor, Guatemala, struggling for justice and dignity.

Tanis Desjarlais (English), Tanis2, is a Cree/Assiniboine woman from Kawacatoose First Nation in Saskatchewan.  She has studied community work at George Brown College and has a strong interest in law as it relates to Indigenous peoples in Canada. She recently participated in a United Church – Kairos Guatemala Study Tour to look at the impacts of mining in Guatemala. Read her blog post about her experencia in San Marcos.

Emma Hebb (English), works in youth ministry with Wesley United Church in NB and recently participated in the United Church of Canada and Kairos Guatemala Study Tour to look at the impacts of Canadian mining overseas. Read her blog about her experience in El Estor, a community deeply affected by Canadian mining  since the 1960s.

Norma Herrera (español), works with UNAMG – the National Women’s Union of Guatemala. Here, she speaks at the November 25 vigil in Guatemala City.

Maria Choc(español), indigenous Qeqchi human rights defendor. Recently featured in, “Defensora,” which chronicles her work and the resistance movement in her community of El Estor.

Kathryn Anderson (English), is an adult educator and diaconal minister of The United Church of Canada, and founder of the of the Maritimes-Guatemala Breaking the Silence Solidarity Network. She is the author of, “Weaving Relationships,” which chronicles the history of the Canadian-Guatemala solidarity movement.

Ana Gonzalez  Ana2 (español)is a biologist with the Madre Selva Collective in Guatemala. She is responsible for water monitoring in mine affected communities.

Teresa Muñoz(español)went into hiding for almost seven months when the Guatemalan State initiated a State of Siege in Santa Rosa and Jalapa in May 2013 after six peaceful protestors were shot outside the Escobal mining project, owned by Tahoe Resources (40% by Goldcorp Inc.) in San Rafael Las Flores. Security Manager Alberto Rotondo was later arrested and criminally charged for his connection to the incident as he attempted to flee the country. Because Teresa is an outspoken activist in her community against the Escobal project, she was a victim of criminalization; after almost seven months, all charges were dropped against her and 17 others without a single charge holding. Three people were injustly imprisoned during this time and have not been compensated.

Yolanda Oquelí, Yoli2 (español) human rights defender and community leader. On June 13 2012, Yolanda was shot as she travelled home from a peaceful protest. Despite attempts to violently evict the community in resistance, Yolanda and others continue the peaceful resistance to defend the land from the expansion of mining activities in San José del Golfo and San Pedro Ayampuc, in the Department of Guatemala.