Help Prevent Child Marriage in Rural Guatemala

We had a busy summer! Over June, July, and August, the Women’s Justice Initiative continued to make strides towards strengthening women and girls’ knowledge of their rights, shifting attitudes about violence against women and girls, and improving access to comprehensive legal services. WJI chose two new municipalities to expand into this fall. We also took advantage of some incredible opportunities to share our work with like minded organizations, learn from organizations in other parts of the world, and reflect on the progress of the Women’s Economic Empowerment in Mesoamerica project through USAID.

WJI’s Expansion into North Tecpán and Santa Apolonia

As a community-based organization, WJI recognizes the importance of making strategic organizational decisions through inclusive processes that consider the expertise of our staff, who are majority Maya-Kaqchikel women and who are best equipped to guide programmatic growth. WJI implemented a comprehensive selection process to determine the two municipalities best suited for expansion, resulting in the selection of North Tecpán and Santa Apolonia.  

North Tecpán consists of 29 rural communities, is characterized by low levels of municipal development (including a lack of schools, health services, and access to water), is far from Tecpán’s municipal center (making it difficult for survivors of violence to seek legal services), and few NGOs are present in the area. North Tecpán is part of the larger municipality of Tecpán, which is geographically disparate, has a population of over 90,000 people, and 75% of its rural population lives in poverty. The rate of violence against women in 2022 was 266 women/100,000 people. 

Santa Apolonia is a rural municipality in the northern sector of Chimaltenango, sharing a border with North Tecpán and San José Poaquil. Santa Apolonia has 29 rural communities and a population of over 18,000 people, 83% of its rural population lives in poverty. The rate of violence against women is 121 women/100,000 people, though this estimate is likely low due to under-reporting. WJI’s legal team has received cases of violence from Santa Apolonia, indicating that WJI’s services and programs in the municipality are badly needed.

WJI Staff Participate in Conferences Around the World

In July, WJI team members traveled to Kigali, Rwanda to attend the Women Deliver 2023 Conference: Spaces, Solidarity, and Solutions, a multi-sectoral convening to advance gender equality. More than 6,000 people from around the world came together to break barriers, address challenges, and identify opportunities to improve the well-being of girls and women.

Kate Flatley (Executive Director), Elvia Raquec (Programs Director), and Rut Curruchich (Outreach Coordinator) attended the conference. Elvia and Rut spoke on panels that showcased their expertise, the impact of WJI’s programming, and the importance of investing in community-driven solutions. 

Our sincere gratitude to our partners who supported our participation, the Luis von Ahn Foundation, the United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women, and WomenStrong International. 

WJI’s Legal Director, Viviana Patal is a member of the Regional Advisory Council for Namati’s Grassroots Justice Network. The Network brings justice defenders together to create systemic change by combining the power of the law with the power of organizing. In August, Viviana joined the Network’s Advisory Council in Buenos Aires to participate in its strategic planning process! 

WEE Learning Circle in Antigua, Guatemala

In August 2023, organizations that form the Women’s Economic Empowerment in Mesoamerica (WEE) initiative gathered in Antigua Guatemala to reflect upon the project’s progress towards its goals. Since 2020, Women’s Justice Initiative has played a vital role in the project, offering technical assistance to organizations across Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras that seek to empower women working in value chains such as coffee, cacao, and artisan production who face situations of violence. WJI planned and hosted the second and third days of the Learning Circle, leading attendees through active and participatory evaluation and reflection methods. The Learning Circle set up member organizations for several more years of success in the project.