Guatemala Grantee Profiles 2011

ACPDC (Asociación Concejo Pro-Desarrollo Comunitario)

Project Title: Implementation of the Ministerial Accord on the promotion of Comprehensive Human Sexuality Education, “Prevention through Education,” directed at Maya K’ich’e adolescent women in eight rural and urban schools in Totonicapán.

AGALI Fellows Manuela Garcia Pu and Eva Particia Chuc are working with ACPDC on behalf of rural indigenous women to support culturally-relevant sex education. Although there have been political advances in the area of sex education, the rights of indigenous people are still not supported by political will and there are still low levels of access to education, prevention, and other sexual and reproductive health-related services in the Department of Totonicapán. This project is advocating with the departmental directors for Health and Education for the culturally-relevant implementation of the Ministerial Accord “Prevention through Education,” directed at Maya K’ich’e indigenous girls and young women, in the towns of Totonicapán, San Francisco el Alto and San Bartolo Aguas Calientes.

Asociación Generando

Project Title: Advocacy for the opening of the Comprehensive Support Center for Women Survivors of Violence (CAIMU) in Chimaltenango, with a youth lens for treatment of adolescent girl survivors of sexual violence

AGALI Fellow Danessa Luna is working to open a support center for women survivors of violence in Chimaltenango, where there are high rates of sexual violence against adolescent girls, and very little prosecution of these crimes or comprehensive treatment available for survivors. As part of its advocacy work, this project is lobbying the government to begin effectively addressing sexual violence against girls, within the context of Article 16 of the Guatemalan Anti-Femicide Law.

CEIPA (Centro Ecuménico de Integración Pastoral)

Project Title: Girls and young women workers on the political agenda of municipal authorities in Quetzaltenango

In Quetzaltenango, there are almost 5,000 working adolescent girls. AGALI Fellows Rebeca Ester Perez Rodas and Marvin Vazquez are working with CEIPA to improve the quality of life of girls and young women workers, by advocating for the implementation of public policies on protection and youth development in this region. This project aims to empower girls and young women to contribute to the fulfillment of their right to education, health, participation, and protection by the creation and implementation of the Executive Secretariat for the Comprehensive Protection of Girls.

CONACMI (La Comisión Nacional Contra el Maltrato y Abuso Sexual Infantil)

Project Title: Advocating for an inclusive agenda and the comprehensive protection of adolescent girl factory workers.

AGALI Fellow Janeth Revolorio is working with CONACMI to promote strategic actions that allow the establishment of partnerships with civic and government organizations, and the formation of a local technical committee which will establish a comprehensive protection policy agenda for young women factory workers. This initiative will open a range of opportunities for adolescents who are currently not figured into municipal plans and who live with the consequences of the absence of protective policies which would allow them to improve their daily working conditions. The project promotes advocacy activities that involve key representatives of the political parties running for office in the September 2011 elections.