Guatemala's lethal weapons
Source: Norwegian Church Aid - Norway
Reuters and AlertNet are not responsible for the content of this article or for any external internet sites. The views expressed are the author's alone.
As Guatemala
prepares for national elections on September 9th, more people are being killed each day by firearms than during the later years of the civil war more than 10 years ago.
By Kristin Alsvik, Intern, NCA Guatemala.
In Guatemala, over 25 people are involved in firearm attacks daily, and more than 80 per cent of Guatemala's over 4000 annual homicides involve the use of firearms. It's estimated that almost to million illegal weapons are in circulation in Guatemala. Young men are the most common victims, but an increasing number of women are also losing their lives to firearms. In many cases, this is due to a phenomenon called femicide. Since 2001 it is estimated that more than 2,500 women and girls have been murdered in Guatemala, most of them sexually abused and then shot. The rise of the maras , or youth gangs, has added to the problem that has given Guatemala one of the world's highest murder rates. 74 per cent of Guatemalans injured by firearms are 11-30 years old.
Norwegian Church Aid's Guatemalan partner IEPADES (Institute for education on sustainable development) is a non-governmental organisation that runs preventative projects focusing on violence and small arms and their impact on children, youth and women. Their most recent campaign, No to Aggressive Toys, attracted a good deal of publicity within the country. Together with Norwegian Church Aid, IEPADES has held seminars proposing effective mechanisms to limit the use of light weapons and curb the negative effects they have on development.
Pre-election promises
Eleven years after the signing of the Peace Accords, more Guatemalans die a violent death each day than during the later years of the country's civil war. In the run-up to this year's general election on September 9th, several of the parties include security issues in their programs, but this is no guarantee that things will change after election day.
"It is hard to know what will happen after the elections. Guatemalan politics are characterised by populism, most parties don't have a clear ideology, and few of the promises made during the election campaign are likely to be fulfilled", says Mayda de Leon, coordinator of the IEPADES weapons control program.
Guatemala's Patriotic Party, known for its mano dura (hard hand) policy has made a name for itself as a party concerned about the relentless violence. It's presidential candidate is a former general and is tipped as one of the strongest candidates to win.
"The Patriotic Party is not clear about how exactly it will address the problem, but most likely its solution will be increased militarism," says Mayda de Leon from IEPADES.
After the Peace Accords of 1996, the role of the army was reduced to dealing only with external hazards. Civil society organisations have expressed concern at signs that this is beginning to change, as the army in Guatemala is well known for previous suppression and violation of human rights.
Not taken seriously
IEPADES does not believe that the problems of violence and small arms are being taken seriously by any of the parties, be they campaigning for presidency or the Congress.
This is a source of concern. Although several parties talks about security, when pressed on the issue of the large numbers of firearms circulating in Guatemalan society, none of them have been able to give answers.
In light of today's political context, IEPADES takes a somewhat pessimistic view towards the future of post-election policy regarding violence and small arms proliferation in Guatemala.
"We cannot trust the government to take action to improve the lives of the millions of Guatemalans that live in poverty and in the shadow of one of the highest rates of violence in Latin America. This makes the work of Norwegian Church Aid and partner organisations particularly important, both in placing pressure on the government and in helping the Guatemalan people," says Mayda de Leon from IEPADES.
Norwegian Church Aid's regional office in Guatemala coordinates projects in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru and Cuba. Thematic focus is directed primarily towards human rights, combating violence, promoting reconciliation, organisational development and institution building, issues related to gender and development, the fight against HIV and AIDS, providing water and sanitary systems and emergency relief.
By Kristin Alsvik, Intern, NCA Guatemala.
In Guatemala, over 25 people are involved in firearm attacks daily, and more than 80 per cent of Guatemala's over 4000 annual homicides involve the use of firearms. It's estimated that almost to million illegal weapons are in circulation in Guatemala. Young men are the most common victims, but an increasing number of women are also losing their lives to firearms. In many cases, this is due to a phenomenon called femicide. Since 2001 it is estimated that more than 2,500 women and girls have been murdered in Guatemala, most of them sexually abused and then shot. The rise of the maras , or youth gangs, has added to the problem that has given Guatemala one of the world's highest murder rates. 74 per cent of Guatemalans injured by firearms are 11-30 years old.
Norwegian Church Aid's Guatemalan partner IEPADES (Institute for education on sustainable development) is a non-governmental organisation that runs preventative projects focusing on violence and small arms and their impact on children, youth and women. Their most recent campaign, No to Aggressive Toys, attracted a good deal of publicity within the country. Together with Norwegian Church Aid, IEPADES has held seminars proposing effective mechanisms to limit the use of light weapons and curb the negative effects they have on development.
Pre-election promises
Eleven years after the signing of the Peace Accords, more Guatemalans die a violent death each day than during the later years of the country's civil war. In the run-up to this year's general election on September 9th, several of the parties include security issues in their programs, but this is no guarantee that things will change after election day.
"It is hard to know what will happen after the elections. Guatemalan politics are characterised by populism, most parties don't have a clear ideology, and few of the promises made during the election campaign are likely to be fulfilled", says Mayda de Leon, coordinator of the IEPADES weapons control program.
Guatemala's Patriotic Party, known for its mano dura (hard hand) policy has made a name for itself as a party concerned about the relentless violence. It's presidential candidate is a former general and is tipped as one of the strongest candidates to win.
"The Patriotic Party is not clear about how exactly it will address the problem, but most likely its solution will be increased militarism," says Mayda de Leon from IEPADES.
After the Peace Accords of 1996, the role of the army was reduced to dealing only with external hazards. Civil society organisations have expressed concern at signs that this is beginning to change, as the army in Guatemala is well known for previous suppression and violation of human rights.
Not taken seriously
IEPADES does not believe that the problems of violence and small arms are being taken seriously by any of the parties, be they campaigning for presidency or the Congress.
This is a source of concern. Although several parties talks about security, when pressed on the issue of the large numbers of firearms circulating in Guatemalan society, none of them have been able to give answers.
In light of today's political context, IEPADES takes a somewhat pessimistic view towards the future of post-election policy regarding violence and small arms proliferation in Guatemala.
"We cannot trust the government to take action to improve the lives of the millions of Guatemalans that live in poverty and in the shadow of one of the highest rates of violence in Latin America. This makes the work of Norwegian Church Aid and partner organisations particularly important, both in placing pressure on the government and in helping the Guatemalan people," says Mayda de Leon from IEPADES.
Norwegian Church Aid's regional office in Guatemala coordinates projects in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru and Cuba. Thematic focus is directed primarily towards human rights, combating violence, promoting reconciliation, organisational development and institution building, issues related to gender and development, the fight against HIV and AIDS, providing water and sanitary systems and emergency relief.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
