Global Humanitaria in Guatemala participated in an inter-institutional workshop led by the Tan Uxil Association in the central region of Petén. The workshop aimed to identify tools to curb pregnancies in girls and adolescents, focusing on prevention. The department of Petén ranks third nationally in registered cases.
The workshop was attended by governmental and non-governmental organizations working on issues of gender-based violence, sexual and reproductive health, and the rights of children and adolescents. Together, they proposed developing an action plan to reach hard-to-access rural communities where services are limited.
Global Humanitaria shared its work and experience in radio programs and training sessions in rural schools on violence prevention, sex education, and women’s empowerment in Poptún and San Luis. Additionally, a mapping of institutional actors in the area was carried out, coordinated by the Human Rights Ombudsman’s Office.
The primary causes of child pregnancy are sexual violence, exacerbated by poverty, a highly conservative and violent patriarchal system, lack of sex education, limited opportunities for girls, violations of gender rights, and early unions, among others. Consequences include educational interruption, physical and mental health problems, and the perpetuation of inequality. The workshop concluded with a call to strengthen the multisectoral approach and guarantee access to services and protection of children’s rights. In Guatemala, pregnancy in a girl under 14 is, by law, the crime of rape.
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