Guatemalan law guarantees all Guatemalans the
right to choose when to have children, how many to have and
with whom. It is a right that many find unfulfilled despite
the fact that family planning is a vital part of reducing
poverty and helping families prosper.
More
>
Youth WINGS
In Guatemala, sex education for youth is
limited or non-existent. Many teachers and parents lack the
most basic information about anatomy, family planning, and
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). The subjects of sex
and sexual health are most often taboo and high rates of teen
pregnancy prevail. More
>
Cervical Cancer Detection and Treatment Program
Cervical cancer is the leading cause of
cancer-related deaths among women of reproductive age in
Guatemala. While it is easily preventable and treatable in
early stages, Guatemala lacks an effective countrywide
screening program, so the vast majority of women go without
screening. More >
PAST
PROJECTS
Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Prevalence Study
In 2003, a WINGS-commissioned survey of
Guatemalan sources revealed very limited data on the
prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in the
country. Only limited data exists on HIV infection rates, and
even less, regarding less lethal STIs.
More
>
WINGS is a US-registered, 501(c)(3) non-profit
organization (or NGO) based in Antigua, Guatemala. It provides
educational talks and information, financial resources, and
access to reproductive health services for low-income, rural
and/or indigenous Guatemalans. Through this they have the
opportunity to make informed choices about their reproductive
health and quality of life.
Guatemala Passes Anti-Femicide Law
On
April 9, 2008 the Guatemalan government passed the Anti-Femicide
Law, a monumental piece of legislation which formally
penalizes violence against women. Femicide is defined as
gender-specific killings on a mass scale, targeting
women and often involving some form of sexual assault.
The new law was brought about by national and
international pressure to take action against the
indiscriminate killing of women in Guatemala. Since
1999, more than 2,000 women have been murdered in this
country of 13 million. Over the last three years, more
women have been killed on average each year than during
Guatemala’s 30-year civil war.
Women’s groups and human rights groups hailed the new
law as a major achievement and an historic moment in the
fight for equality and justice in a country where
machista culture is strong and impunity for perpetrators
of violence often reigns supreme.
One of the most exciting aspects of this legislation is
that a woman’s right to control her fertility is
formally protected. It is now considered a sexually
violent crime to deny a woman the use of a natural or
hormonal family planning method. This component of the
law is especially important to WINGS’ work as our staff
deals with the subject of family planning on a daily
basis.
We
find that many Guatemalan women do not actively take
control of their reproduction because, among other
reasons, they are not sufficiently aware of their rights
to demand family planning services.
In a 2005 barrier analysis conducted by WINGS, 25% of
women cited partner disapproval as a reason for not
using a family planning method.
While much remains to be done in terms of raising
awareness about the rights and protections outlined in
the anti-femicide law and ensuring adequate
implementation and enforcement of the law’s provisions,
WINGS is pleased that there is now formidable legal
backing for the work that we do.
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TESTIMONIAL OF WINGS' WORK
Jose, a 21-year-old indigenous farmer, lives in
San Andres Sajcebaja with his family. Having never
gone to school, Jose understands and speaks only the
little Spanish he picked up from his bosses along
the way. The family spends all of their time on the
farm, located three hours away from the closest
major town. Earning Q10 a day ($1.30), Jose
struggles to support his wife and children.
At the local health clinic, Jose heard about
WINGS’ family planning services and discussed the
benefits of not having any more children with his
wife. Jose felt sterilization was the best birth
control option but had heard many myths that
vasectomies diminish men’s strength and would
prevent him from working. He had also heard that he
would not be able to eat corn, Guatemala’s main
staple, after having a vasectomy.
Jose’s friends, however, recommended a vasectomy
to him, as they understand how hard it is to support
a family on such a small salary and WINGS staff
members addressed the fears and myths he had heard
about vasectomies. As his wife was scared to get a
tubal ligation, Jose therefore decided to have a
vasectomy which WINGS subsidized.
Jose is glad that he and his wife no longer have
to worry about future pregnancies - particularly the
cost of births and the struggle to find sufficient
wood for the family. He feels their decision will
help them better provide for their children. Jose
hopes to be able to travel to sell the farm’s
produce somewhere it will receive a better price,
and even though life is hard, he wants his children
to study hard and be able to find work.
Read more testimonials from service users in
our newsletters -
downloadable here.
On
April 9, 2008 the Guatemalan government passed the Anti-Femicide
Law, a monumental piece of legislation which formally
penalizes violence against women. Femicide is defined as
gender-specific killings on a mass scale, targeting
women and often involving some form of sexual assault. 
We
find that many Guatemalan women do not actively take
control of their reproduction because, among other
reasons, they are not sufficiently aware of their rights
to demand family planning services. 
