Dear Women’s Link Friends and Supporters,
History is being made in Guatemala. For the first time ever, a dictator is being tried
in his own country for crimes of genocide and war.
This is a huge step forward for justice, and Women’s Link is making sure
that women are taking part.
From 1982 to 1983 General Ríos Montt carried out a campaign of
genocide with the aim of destroying the Mayan population. In Guatemala, as in all wars and conflicts that have
occurred throughout history, sexual
violence and rape against women and girls were core
tactics for destroying and terrorizing the Mayan people.
In December we told you how Women’s Link is working with Mayan women
to end the silence about the systemic crimes committed against them
during the Guatemalan genocide. We are now excited to share that just
last week, Women’s
Link Senior Attorney Paloma Soria took the stand as an expert witness
on gender and international human rights, in order to testify about
the ways in which women and girls were targeted by the military.
When she took the stand, dozens of survivors were present as their
stories and the atrocities they lived were finally brought forth as
international crimes; no longer seen as "collateral
damage."
We look forward to reporting back to you as the trials progress in
this historic
moment for women’s rights and for justice.
Thank you so much for making this important and historic work
possible, and for your partnership with Women’s Link as we fight for
justice and the rights of women worldwide.
With appreciation,
Viviana Waisman
P.S. Interested in learning more? Read my article in Huffington Post about
how this trial is a huge opportunity for gender justice
(available in Spanish only) and read this summary of Paloma expert intervention
last Friday at the trial.
|
|
|
|