Stop Violence Against Women in Guatemala

Many Guatemalans might regard thrillers and serial killers films as light and interested pieces of fiction because we are confronted with ultra violent headlines in newspapers like Nuestro Diario and Al Día, sensationalist rags that, like mirrors, show us every day how savage we can be. Ironically, Nuestro Diario boasts the largest circulation of any newspaper between Mexico and Colombia. We are desensitized a little more each day! 🙁

El morbo vende, mobidness sells, or something similar declared Miguel Ángel Asturias in his novel Weekend en Guatemala. I will spare you some of the morbid news. Suffice it to say, there are real monsters in Guatemala.

So, when my dear friend Renata Ávila, Guatemalan correspondent for Global Voices, sent me the draft of the agenda for the activities leading up to the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, I was excited that Guatemala was chosen as the site for the global campaign to stop violence against women. I congratulate the organizers and all the people involved in the campaign to bring awareness and sensitivity back.

Below, you can see the calendar of activities for the next three days. Please, help translate the activities in the comments so non-Spanish speakers can learn what’s is going in Guatemala right now.

24 de noviembre:
9:00 a.m. Feria del Conocimiento organizada por la ONU todo el día, por invitación especializada. Participan organizaciones de mujeres especializadas en temas de la Feria. Lugar: Centro cultural Luís Cardoza y Aragón, Embajada de México.
18:00 p.m. Presentación de la obra de teatro El Laberinto de las mariposas, organizada por Alas de Mariposa en el marco del Lanzamiento Regional, abierta y gratuita para todo público, parqueo gratuito y vigilado.
18:00 Vigila en honor de todas las mujeres asesinadas en Guatemala. Organiza la Coordinadora 25 de noviembre independientemente del Lanzamiento. Parque Central frente a la Puerta Principal del Palacio Nacional.
25 de Noviembre:
9:00 a.m. Día Internacional por la Eliminación de la Violencia contra las Mujeres. Caravana, marcha y acto político, organizado por la Coordinadora 25 de noviembre como actividad independiente del Lanzamiento. Punto de encuentro en Plaza Italia, frente a la Municipalidad de Guatemala, recorriendo la 6ta. Avenida de la zona 1 hasta llegar al Parque Central, frente a la puerta principal del Palacio Nacional terminando con un Acto Político.
11:00 a.m. Acto Protocolar del Lanzamiento Regional de la Campaña de la ONU. Palacio Nacional. Una delegada de Feministas en Resistencia de Honduras hablará por el movimiento de mujeres de la región en el marco del acto, entre las presentaciones de diversas delegaciones oficiales de la ONU y el Gobierno.
17:00 Con un Nudo en la Garganta, teatro presentado por Rayuela, Caja Lúdica y UNAMG en el marco del “Encuentro Latinoamericano de Arte Comunitario”. Lugar: 6ª Ave. Entre 2ª. Y 3ª. Calle, frente a sede Caja Lúdica.
18:00 Concierto Juvenil Ya no más violencia contra las mujeres organizado por la ONU con la Municipalidad de Guatemala. Entre los grupos, canta Naik Madera de mujeres jóvenes, patrocinadas por el Fondo Centroamericano de Mujeres en el marco del Lanzamiento Regional.
26 de noviembre:
(Todas las actividades de las jornadas entre las 14:00 – 20:00 tendrán lugar en la legendaria Plaza del antiguo ferrocarril. Venga a ver porqué el movimiento de mujeres la rescata como tal.)
14:00 Acto de dignificación “Sobreviví, estoy aquí, y estoy viva” mujeres víctimas y sobrevivientes de violación sexual en el conflicto armado, organiza Actoras de Cambio en el marco del Lanzamiento Regional. Plaza Justo Rufino Barrios en la ciudad en 18 calle y 9ª. Ave. Zona 1
16:30 Concierto CANTARTE, mujeres centroamericanas: Sandra Morán (Guatemala), Ana Carter (Costa Rica) y Karla Lara (Honduras) en el marco del Lanzamiento Regional. Plaza Justo Rufino Barrios.
18:00 Marcha de Faroles en homenaje a todas las mujeres desaparecidas durante el conflicto, organizados por el Colectivo Artesana en el marco del Lanzamiento Regional. Plaza Justo Rufino Barrios.

13 Responses to "Stop Violence Against Women in Guatemala"

Laura McNamara says:
November 19, 2009 at 10:48 am
Rudy, while the song you have posted bespeaks of the issue at hand… broadcasting a song that continues to essentially belittle women through its lyrics is hardly a start to transforming the reality. I know the song is meant to raise awareness but the negative message is still being repeated over and over. How about simply abandoning the message all together and posting a song that portrays women as valuable, worthy, equal, strong, valiant… etc…
Examples:
Sisters are Doin it for Themselves by Aretha Franklin
Now there was a time when they used to say
That behind every great man there had to be a great woman.
But in these times of change you know that it’s no longer true
So we’re comin’ out of the kitchen
‘Cause there’s something we foryot to say to you
we say:
Sisters are doin’ it for themselves
Standin’ on their own two feet an ringin’ on their own bells.
Sisters are doin’ it for themselves.
Now this is a song to celebrate
The conscious liberation of the female state.
Mothers
daughters and their daughters
too
Woman to woman
we’re singing with you.
The inferior sex has got a new exterior
We got doctors
lawyers
politicians
too.
Everybody
take a look around –
Can you see
can you see
can you see there’s a woman right next to you.
We say: Sisters are doin’ it for themselves
. . .
Now we ain’t makin’ stories and we ain’t layin’ plans
‘Cause a man still loves a woman and a woman still loves a man –
Just the same though –
Sisters are doin’ it for themselves.
Now there was a time when they used to say . . .
Sisters are doin’ it for themselves
. . .
Sisters are doin’ it for themselves
Strength of a Woman by Shaggy
[Opening]
Ugh
Wah
Ugh
Ummmmm
Yo
SHAGGY
Ugh
Yo
This one goes out to all my women you know
My strong women, ugh
[Verse 1]
So amazing how this world was made
I wonder if GOD is a woman
The gift of life astounds me till this day
I give it up for the woman
She’s the constant wind that fills my sail
Oh that woman
With her smile and her style,my
She’ll protect like a child
That’s a woman
[Chorus]
She’ll put a smile upon your face
And take you to that (ah) higher place
So don’t you under estimate
The strength of a woman
The strength of a woman
[Verse 2]
Woke up this morning
I got up with the scent of a woman
Just picture if you could what life would be
Ain’t much good without a woman
She can nag and be a constant pain
Oh that woman
But those hips she’s got me whipped
And it’s just to hard to resist
What a woman
Ugh, hey
[Chorus]
Tosses in
Ugh, ugh, ugh
[Verse 3]
Tender lips that’s so so sweet
Gentle words she softly speaks
Such an angel when we need
GOD bless the ground beneath her feet
She can take you on a high
Be your comfort when you cry
But if you look into her eyes
You’ll see the strength of a woman
Strength of a woman
Ugh, ugh, ugh
[Chorus]
[Fade]
Strength of a woman
I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor
First I was afraid
I was petrified
Kept thinking I could never live
without you by my side
But I spent so many nights
thinking how you did me wrong
I grew strong
I learned how to carry on
and so you’re back
from outer space
I just walked in to find you here
with that sad look upon your face
I should have changed my stupid lock
I should have made you leave your key
If I had known for just one second
you’d be back to bother me
Go on now go walk out the door
just turn around now
’cause you’re not welcome anymore
weren’t you the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye
you think I’d crumble
you think I’d lay down and die
Oh no, not I
I will survive
as long as i know how to love
I know I will stay alive
I’ve got all my life to live
I’ve got all my love to give
and I’ll survive
I will survive
It took all the strength I had
not to fall apart
kept trying hard to mend
the pieces of my broken heart
and I spent oh so many nights
just feeling sorry for myself
I used to cry
Now I hold my head up high
and you see me
somebody new
I’m not that chained up little person
still in love with you
and so you felt like dropping in
and just expect me to be free
now I’m saving all my loving
for someone who’s loving me
Reflection by Christina Aguilera
Look at me
You may think you see
Who I really am
But you’ll never know me
Every day
It’s as if I play a part
Now I see
If I wear a mask
I can fool the world
But I cannot fool my heart
Who is that girl I see
Staring straight back at me?
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?
I am now
In a world where I
Have to hide my heart
And what I believe in
But somehow
I will show the world
What’s inside my heart
And be loved for who I am
Who is that girl I see
Staring straight back at me?
Why is my reflection
Someone I don’t know?
Must I pretend that I’m
Someone else for all time?
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?
There’s a heart that must be
Free to fly
That burns with a need to know
The reason why
Why must we all conceal
What we think, how we feel?
Must there be a secret me
I’m forced to hide?
I won’t pretend that I’m
Someone else for all time
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?
Reply
Laura McNamara says:
November 19, 2009 at 10:53 am
Another good example from Christina Aguilera (feat. Lil Kim): Can’t Hold Us Down
So-What am i not s’pposed to have an opinion?
Should i be quiet because i’m a woman?
Call me a bitch (bitch) cause i speak what’s on my mind
Guess it’s easier for you to swallow if i sat and smiled
When a female fires back
suddenly target don’t know how to act
So he does what any little boy would do
Makin’ up a few false rumors or two
That for sure is not a man to me
Slanderin’ names for popularity
It’s sad you only get your fame through controversy
But now it’s time for me to come and give you more to say
Chorus:
This is for my girls all around the world
Who have come across a man that don’t respect your worth
Thinkin’ all women should be seen, not heard
So what do we do girls?
Shout louder,
Letting them know we’re gonna stand our ground (our ground)
So lift your hands high and wave’em proud (wohoh)
Take a deep breath and say it loud,
Never can,never will
Can’t hold us down
Nobody can hold us down(us down)…Nobody can hold us down(us down)…Nobody can hold us down(hold us down)
Never can never will…
So what am i not supposed to say what i’m saying
Are you offended with the message i’m bringin’
Call me whatever ’cause your words don’t mean a thing
Cuz you ain’t even a man enough to handle what i sing
If you look back in history it’s a common double standard of society
The guy gets all the glory, the more he can score
While the girl can do the same and yet you call her a whore
I don’t understand why its OK,
The guy can get away with it while any girl gets named
All my ladies come together and make a change
Start a new beginning for us,everybody sing
Chorus
Lil’ Kim:
Here’s something I just can’t understand
If the guy have three girls then he’s a man
He can either give her some head, or sex her raw
If the girl do the same, then she’s a whore
But the table’s about to turn
I’ll bet my fame on it
Cats take my ideas and put their name on it
It’s aight though, you can’t hold me down
I got to keep on movin’
To all my girls with a man who be tryin to mack
Do it right back to him and let that be that
You need to let him know that his game is whack
And Lil’ Kim and Christina Aguilera got your back
You’re just a little boy,
Think you’re so cute,so coy
You must talk so big, to make up for smaller things
You’re just a little boy
All you’ll do is annoy
You must talk so big, to make up for smaller things,
This is for my girls…
Repeat Chorus X2
Ahh Wahoo 7X ahh
Spread the word
Can’t hold us down
Yeh we here
We Back again
Yeh Lil Kim and Christina Aguilera
Yeh
Can’t hold us down!
Reply
Rudy Girón says:
November 19, 2009 at 11:32 am
@Laura, okay, I will switch the song by another beautiful John Lennon’s ode to women. Thanks for pointing it out to me!
Reply
Manolo says:
November 19, 2009 at 1:33 pm
HIM: Well well… now and forever.
HER: I will survive.
I think my conscience was born after finding and reading Ibsen’s “A doll’s house” among my mother’s books.
Reply
Glennis says:
November 19, 2009 at 10:52 pm
Protect our young ladies from all violence in the home and on the street.
Reply
Erick says:
November 20, 2009 at 11:49 am
Rudy, what was the song that was initially posted? Apparently it wasn’t a hit (no pun intended, well, maybe).
Reply
1. Rudy Girón says:
  November 20, 2009 at 12:21 pm
  The first song was a great composition by John Lennon which denounces the mistreatment of women the world over. Here you can listen to it; if you dare!
  Reply
Erick says:
November 20, 2009 at 12:49 pm
I had never heard that song before, but I liked it, especially after reading the lyrics. I think it describes the reality that perhaps most women have to go through on an every day basis, while at the same time asking people to change their ways/perspective; I don’t think it is meant to intentionally belittle women. But that’s MY two cents.
Thanks for posting the link; now hope that Laura doesn’t find you (j/k)! =P
Reply
Janna Rudler says:
November 20, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Actually, I think that first song is a pretty accurate description of the double standard women in Guatemala are forced to live with. I’ve often been bewildered at the contradictory code of conduct and manner of dress imposed upon Guatemalan girls. Then when something happens to them, their victimization is blamed on how they were dressed (as in Killers’ Paradise, where police said that the young lady had a belly ring and was wearing sandals, and therefore was just asking to be killed). That song is true, even if its title is shocking.
Reply
1. Rudy Girón says:
  November 20, 2009 at 1:23 pm
  @Janna, that’s what I thought, but I did not want to have a song that might be offensive to some women, like Laura. 🙁
  Reply
Janna Rudler says:
November 20, 2009 at 3:59 pm
I think perhaps she prefers songs that highlight women’s strength as opposed to ones that expose our exploitation. Both, I think, are important. Exposing the ways in which women are manipulated by society shines a glaring light on all those little, damaging things, things that we might otherwise accept as an inevitable part of life. It’s not pretty, but the more they’re brought to light, the less comfortable society will be in perpetuating them. At the same time, fight songs show that we are strong, and that we can survive & prosper in spite of everything.
Reply
Laura McNamara says:
November 20, 2009 at 5:04 pm
Janna hit the nail on the head with the comment above 😉
I agree that awareness should be raised but ultimately I think broadcasting positive messages will produce more positive results than negative messages (even if it is to bring awareness). But, that being said… still needs to be a part of the whole process.
Reply

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