Despite the specific commitments by the Guatemalan government to protect the lives of women and human rights defenders, increased violence against women, men and children in Guatemala is fast spiraling out of control. According to statistics from the Guatemalan National Civilian Police (PNC), the number of women who were murdered in 2005 represented a 110 percent increase from the number reported in 2002. By comparison the number of men who were murdered during the same time period rose by 41 percent. Most of these women and adolescent girls are from poor urban areas. Prosecution of these crimes is almost nonexistent, and consequently the attacks on women have become more frequent and brutal.
