HELP FOR FEMALE VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE IS FOUR DIGITS

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 001517 SIPDIS DEPT FOR G/IWI AND G/TIP DEPT PASS TO USAID FOR LAC/CAM EBOSTIC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KWMN KCRM PHUM KJUS KDEM SOCI PGOV MX GT SUBJECT: HELP FOR FEMALE VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE IS FOUR DIGITS AWAY REF: GUATEMALA 457 ¶1. On November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the Guatemalan Institute of Public Criminal Defense (IDPP) inaugurated a hotline to provide emergency assistance to female victims of domestic violence, sexual abuse, and other forms of physical violence 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. By dialing 1571, victims and their families will have access to coordinated medical and security assistance from first responders and the National Civil Police, as well as free legal assistance from one of the call center's three dedicated lawyers. ¶2. The IDPP established the hotline number, with financial support from the European Union, to comply with the mandate of the 2008 Law Against Femicide and Other Forms of Violence Against Women (passed by Congress in April) for the GOG to provide free legal assistance to female victims and their families (reftel). ¶3. During the call center's first four hours of operation on November 25, its six phone operators received 20 calls from female victims requesting assistance. According to IDPP Director General Blanca Aida Stalling, an estimated 600 women have been murdered so far this year in Guatemala. Over the past four years, an estimated 2,113 women have reportedly been killed in Guatemala while only 52 perpetrators have been prosecuted. ¶4. According to Carlos Castresana, Commissioner of the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala, many in Guatemalan society silently accept violence against women as a natural occurrence and cultural norm, making the work of those who fight to protect women more difficult. Civil society members expressed optimism that the hotline would provide an effective and immediate response to female victims in danger. McFarland