VZCZCXYZ0027
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHGT #0262/01 0781247
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 191247Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7144
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 5136

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 000262 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR G/IWI ABOTTNER AND IMARR 
DEPT ALSO FOR WHA/CEN AND DRL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL KWMN KPAO PHUM KJUS KDEM KCRM EAID SOCI
GT 
SUBJECT: GUATEMALAN "WOMAN OF COURAGE" ASSISTS VICTIMS OF 
DOMESTIC ABUSE AND VIOLENCE 
 
REF: A. STATE 16553 
     ¶B. GUATEMALA 164 
     ¶C. 08 GUATEMALA 1359 
 
¶1. (U) Summary:  On March 4, the Ambassador met with 2009 
Guatemalan "Woman of Courage" Norma Cruz to personally 
congratulate her in advance of her visit to Washington to 
participate in the Secretary's awards ceremony and related 
activities.  Cruz, co-founder and director of local NGO 
Survivors Foundation, discussed the daunting challenges 
facing her organization.  She expressed concern over the 
pervasive climate of impunity, the growing violence against 
women, and corruption in the judicial sector, but felt 
hopeful that the new legislation against sexual violence and 
trafficking in persons would help put an end to the impunity. 
 End Summary. 
 
¶2. (U) During a March 4 courtesy call on the Ambassador, 
Norma Cruz, one of eight women selected from more than 80 
nominees worldwide for the Secretary's 2009 International 
Women of Courage Award (ref A), thanked the Ambassador on 
behalf of her organization for the Embassy's nomination (ref 
C).  Cruz said she was very pleased with the recognition as 
it is not only for her and her team but for all women who are 
fighting against violence and for women's rights in 
Guatemala.  She expressed concern over the increase in 
killings of women, which she lamented is part of the sad 
reality of a country where "one kills another for any 
reason."  She noted that there is violence everywhere, not 
only in the streets but also in homes, and that while the 
country is no longer at war the killings have not stopped. 
She underscored the importance of passing a law regulating 
arms and ammunition, noting that 90 percent of killings of 
women involve firearms. 
 
¶3. (U) Cruz thanked the Ambassador for the Embassy's support 
on recently enacted legislation against sexual violence, 
exploitation, and trafficking in persons (ref B), which she 
characterized as an important tool that will greatly help in 
ending the impunity of violence against women.  Impunity, she 
said, is the key issue, the biggest challenge for the 
country.  She expressed particular concern over the growing 
power of organized crime in narcotrafficking and human 
trafficking and its infiltration into the judicial sector. 
She observed that organized crime is corrupting the judicial 
sector and changing the panorama of criminal activity. 
 
¶4. (U) The Ambassador highlighted USG support to the GOG on 
preventive efforts.  He noted that the previous week the USG 
provided training on domestic violence to 60 National Civil 
Police (PNC) officers at the Police Academy as part of our 
efforts to help professionalize the Guatemalan police force. 
He noted that while the majority of the students were women, 
there was much enthusiasm among the students and that the 
training was well received.  The seminar focused on various 
themes related to domestic violence, including machismo, 
sexual harassment, and techniques on how to interview 
aggressors. 
 
¶5. (SBU) According to Cruz, corruption among judges is 
undermining justice.  She said that some judges have ties to 
drug cartels and are bribed to look the other way.  She 
commented that the chief prosecutor of the anti-TIP unit is 
very competent and diligent but is hampered by suspended 
sentences handed down by the courts.  Likewise, the Attorney 
General, whom she described as "very honest" and "very 
responsive," and PNC Director Marlene Blanco face enormous 
challenges.  She indicated that her organization, which has 
Qchallenges.  She indicated that her organization, which has 
14 lawyers, recently helped secure the first-ever conviction 
against a PNC officer for domestic violence and convictions 
against four other police officers for obstruction of justice 
in that case. 
 
¶6. (U) Since January 2008, USAID has financed a USD 25,000 
sub-contract to the Survivors Foundation under its Rule of 
Law program to provide legal support to victims of homicide, 
particularly female victims.  With this assistance, the 
foundation has been able to provide legal services to 
third-party plaintiffs, including victims and victims' family 
members, in domestic violence cases, as well as psychological 
counseling and social services to victims.  USAID support to 
the foundation resulted on February 26 in the conviction and 
37-year prison sentence of a PNC officer for the killing of 
his PNC girlfriend. 
 
¶7. (U) Press coverage of Cruz and the "International Women of 
Courage" awards ceremony has been extensive and 
 
overwhelmingly positive.  Cruz was featured in all the local 
major print media, including two front-page photos, as well 
as radio and TV broadcasts, including Voice of America and 
international network CNN in Spanish and English. 
 
¶8. (U) Comment:  Cruz's USG-supported crusade against sexual 
and domestic violence in defense of Guatemalan women is a 
testament to the willpower of dedicated individuals to make 
change despite rampant violence and systemic corruption.  As 
the recipient of the 2009 International Women of Courage 
Award for Latin America, Cruz publicly highlights the 
courageous efforts of her organization and the plight of 
female victims of violence in Guatemala. 
McFarland