posted May 01, 2006 05:56 PM              

Women and girls in Guatemala are frightened of victimization and violence every time they leave their homes. Since 2001, over 1,900 of their sisters, daughters, mothers and friends have been brutally killed.

What's even more shocking is that the Guatemalan authorities are failing to investigate or prosecute these crimes, perpetuating the violence and discrimination. Please contact your congressional representatives and ask urge them to protect the lives of women in Guatemala.

To date, less than 9% of the murders have been investigated, and those few investigations have often been marred by criminal negligence and discrimination against the victims and their families.

Today, I ask you to take action and help stop any more women from falling prey to this outrageous and despicable violence. Your action will also commemorate women like Claudina Isabel Velasquez Paiz, a 19-year old law student who disappeared last August. She was found raped and shot in the head. The authorities failed to respond to reports of her disappearance and to date, have failed to investigate her murder.

Demand justice for Claudina and the other women brutally killed, and stand up to protect the remaining Guatemalan women who are in grave danger. Click here.

1,900 women - over 300 each year - have been killed. Each day, another woman risks death. The violence will not stop until the Guatemalan Government demonstrates its political will to investigate these crimes, prosecute the offenders, and stop the killings. Take 5 minutes, and stand in solidarity with the women of Guatemala today. You can help stop the killings.

Sincerely,

Larry Cox
Executive Director
Amnesty International USA

You can go to the action center of Amnesty International at the following URL address to send a letter to your federal representatives:
http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/c.goJTI0OvElH/b.953489/k.B86E/A ction_Center_Home/siteapps/advocacy/index.aspx