The report provides updated insights into the drivers of gender‑based violence and the persistent barriers to social inclusion in Guatemala. It underscores how patriarchal norms, structural inequalities, child marriage, and high levels of impunity continue to fuel violence against girls and adolescents. It also highlights that Indigenous girls, girls with disabilities, and those affected by migration face disproportionate risks due to intersecting forms of discrimination.
The event convened key government and civil society stakeholders, including representatives from the Presidential Secretariat for Women, the Indigenous Women’s Ombudsman, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of the Interior, UN Women, the Secretariat Against Sexual Violence, Exploitation and Trafficking in Persons (SVET), the Global Survivors Fund, the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy, and organisations providing frontline support to girl and adolescent survivors.
Developed by ODI Global under a regional programme funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the study calls for strengthening protection systems, improving inter‑institutional coordination, and supporting community‑led initiatives aimed at transforming harmful social norms. It also recommends expanding survivor‑centred services, investing in early prevention, and ensuring culturally appropriate approaches in Indigenous territories.
The Embassy reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s commitment to advancing gender equality and safeguarding the rights of girls and young women in Guatemala. It emphasised the importance of continued collaboration with national institutions, community organisations, and international partners to drive inclusive, sustainable, and long‑lasting change.
Juliana Correa, British Ambassador to Guatemala said
The United Kingdom remains firmly committed to gender equality and to strengthening public policies that benefit women and girls. We want to continue working with Guatemala to support sustainable solutions, strengthen institutional capacities, and support local leadership, especially that of women and communities who have been at the forefront of this agenda.
