The War on Women continues: Two young girls brutally strangled - and then dumped on to streets

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
1/23/2013
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Human rights groups in Guatemala say killers are unlikely to face punishment

In a nation where violence against women is common, the latest murder of two girls has stunned the South American nation of Guatemala. Two sisters -- one six, the other 11 - were found strangled, still wearing their pajamas and dumped in a city street south of Guatemala City. Even more horrifying is the fact that 90 percent of these types of cases are not investigated here.

Some 707 women were killed in Guatemala in 2012, a significant increase from 431 in 2011. At the time of their killing, the murders of 32 women had already been reported so far this year in just 15 days, while 216 men have been killed in the same period, the human rights group said.

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LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Meanwhile in Zona 11, a southern district of Guatemala City, two women also lay murdered, both shot, one reportedly in the face. The victims have since been identified as being related.

The victims have since been identified as 35-year-old Carmen Virginia Tuez Franco, daughters six-year-old Marbella del Rosario Raymundo Tuez, and 11-year-old Andy Briseida Guadalupe Raymundo Tuez, along with Carmen's 22-year-old niece Silvia Matilde Gaitan Franco.

Coffins were carried aloft by crying women before being brought before a mass as family and locals paid their last respects.

It's not yet known why the girls met their violent end, the pictures of today's emotional funeral serve as a poignant reminder of Guatemala's so called "war on women."

Some 707 women were killed in Guatemala in 2012, a significant increase from 431 in 2011. At the time of their killing, the murders of 32 women had already been reported so far this year in just 15 days, while 216 men have been killed in the same period, the human rights group said.

Cases are not effectively investigated, according to Amnesty International most and less than four per cent of all homicides in Guatemala result in perpetrators being convicted.

"There is no let-up in the cases of killings of women and girls recorded every month, despite the national scandal this has become for Guatemala," Sebastian Elgueta, Guatemala researcher at Amnesty International says.

"Thousands of cases of killings of women and girls dating from the last decade are still unresolved or end up being archived due to inefficiencies."

Jorge Cabrera, director of Guatemala's National Institute of Forensic Sciences he suspects that organized crime is behind the killing of the two girls, specifically drug trafficking groups who do not care about age or gender, he said.

In recent years, Guatemala has had one of the highest per capita murder rates in the world, according to the United Nations: 40 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants in 2010.

� 2013, Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

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Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Guatemala, women, girls, violence, murder human rights

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1 - 3 of 3 Comments

Mario Vargas
4 months ago
This is very tragic and the murder rate is quite alarming. May the victims rest in peace and consolation be brought to those suffering their loss.

To the author of the article: please be aware that Guatemala is in Central America, not South America.
abey
4 months ago
My stating these deaths as 'War on woman" where the cause of these deaths as reported is by drug trafficking groups related to drugs who care neither for age or gender undermines the very cause of these deaths but to the cause of some sort of an Agenda which makes the reporting incorrect to an Exaggeration.
Gil Michelini
4 months ago
My youngest daughter is from Guatemala City. I hate reading stories like this but at the same time it reminds me to bring the needs of this nation and their wonderful people before God.

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