GUATEMALA

Guatemala’s first NAP covered the period 2017-2020.  There does not appear to be a further NAP in progress.

Objectives of the 2017-2020 NAP:

The NAP comprises five pillars, each with a key objective:

Pillar 1: Empowerment and participation of women 

Objective: Achieve parity in the representation of women and men in the decision making of national, regional and international institutions and mechanisms, at all levels and areas.

Pillar 2: Training and development of women

Objective: Develop and implement training strategies for compliance with Resolution 1325 of the United Nations Security Council and Related Resolutions related to Women, Peace and Security, in a sustainable manner.

Pillar 3: Respect for women's human rights

Objective: Adopt measures that guarantee the protection, progress and respect of the human rights of women for the prevention, care, punishment and eradication of all forms of discrimination and violence against women, including sexual violence.

Pillar 4: Women's leadership for peacebuilding

Objective: Strengthen leadership and promote the equal participation of women in negotiation, conflict resolution and peacebuilding processes.

Pillar 5: Dignified and transformational reparation of human rights violations for women in conflict and post-conflict situations. 

Objective: Facilitate the leadership, participation and benefits of women from actions of dignified and transformative reparation in order to contribute to the eradication of impunity.

Commentary:

Guatemala’s NAP is rooted in the country’s own history of violence. Recognizing the institutional legacy of colonialism, the NAP pays tribute to the sexual violence and disappearances experienced by women – especially indigenous Mayan women – in the country’s 1960-1996 civil war. 

The NAP reviews the peace process and current participation of women in the legislature, judiciary and military. While the judicial sector has made more progress than the military, the NAP notes that women are still underrepresented in all sectors. It also pays special attention to the need for intersectionality and ethnicity, especially in representing indigenous women.

Civil Society involvement in development of the NAP:

Civil society was consulted by the government about the creation of the NAP: “A consultation process was held in 2013 with specialized and local civil society organizations that address issues related to the human rights of women in conflict and post-conflict situations, transitional justice, security and justice, women who are survivors of the conflict.” (p11)

 

UN Peacekeeping Statistics:

At end May 2023 Guatemala was contributing 177 UN peacekeeping personnel, of which 20 were women.  Positions held by these women were: Experts on Mission 3 (out of 13); 2 military staff officers (out of 14); and 15 soldiers out of 150.

Women in Peacekeeping:

The NAP recognises the strong presence of women’s civil society groups in the country and identifies them as a key player in supporting women’s leadership in peacebuilding initiatives:

“In 2014, the Plan was strengthened with the incorporation of proposals contained in the Alternative Action Plan of Resolution 1325 of the UN Security Council, prepared by the Mesoamerican Alliance of Women for Peace, formed by the National Coordinator of Widows of Guatemala, CONAVIGUA, the Political Association of Mayan Women MOLO. Women Transforming the World, MTM. The inputs of the consultations, together with the Alternative Action Plan and the links with existing state policies, allowed, in 2015, for the construction of a consolidated National Action Plan.” (p12)

References and Sources:

Guatemala WPS NAP: National Action Plan UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION (gnwp.org)

Contribution of Uniformed Personnel to UN by Country, Mission, and Personnel Type (May 2023): 05-Missions Detailed By Country


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