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Guatemalan Approves a Law to Stop Femicide and Violence Against Women |
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17 April 2008
The Congress of Guatemala unanimously approved a law establishing penalties of 20 - 50 years imprisonment for femicide. Punishments for sexual, physical, psychological and economic violence will vary from 5 to 8 years, depending on the severity of the crime.
According to the National Institute for the Public Defence, over 22,737 women suffered sexual harassment last year in Guatemala. The majority of the perpetrators were partners or relatives of the victims.
Because no law existed against sexual harrassment, only 1.8% of cases were defined as criminal conduct in court. The impunity for crimes against women makes Guatemala one of the most violent countries for women in the world.
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Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) |
