2022 Annual Report

Indigenous Women Transforming Communities
Leading for a lasting impact

Our Mission

The Women’s Justice Initiative (WJI) improves the lives of indigenous Guatemalan women and girls through education, access to legal services, and gender-based violence prevention.

Letter from Our Leadership

Kate Flatley

Executive Director

Clara Ferraro

Board President

Dear Friends,

We are thrilled to share that 2022 was a year of progress and growth in which we hit extraordinary milestones and celebrated a Decade of Success! 

In 2011, we began as a team of two, working in one community with fifteen participants. To date, more than 10,000 women and girls have participated in our programs, and we have reached nearly 50,000 individuals directly. In 2022 our team grew to thirty-three staff members and our work covered seventy-three communities, across three countries. We provided 1,400 free legal services to over 800 women. More than 1,300 women and girls participated in our programs, and we welcomed twenty-two new women to our network of Community Advocates. Regionally, we collaborated with 155 civil society organizations with whom we shared knowledge and technical assistance.

As a team, we celebrated the achievements of the past ten years and began to define ambitious organizational goals for the future. Recognizing that sustainable growth must be guided by local expertise and informed by our past experience, last year we created an Impact and Learning team which is dedicated to ensuring that WJI’s work has a lasting impact that transforms communities.

We are filled with immense gratitude as we reflect on the work we have accomplished together in our ongoing mission to end gender-based violence and improve the lives of women and girls in rural, indigenous communities. While we celebrate our accomplishments from the last ten years, we eagerly look forward to the next ten.

Thank you for being a critical part of our success. 

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The Context: Guatemala

Guatemala has one of the highest rates of violence against women in the world. Rural, indigenous women are disproportionately impacted by violence due to social isolation, discrimination, weak public institutions, and limited access to resources.

Indigenous Guatemalan girls face an especially high risk of child marriage as gender norms and a lack of educational and economic opportunities push young girls to get married.

  • 53% of all femicides committed in Central America occurred in Guatemala
  • 1 in 3 indigenous women who live with a man experience violence
  • Less than 2% of legal cases involving violence against women and girls result in judgment
  • 24% of Guatemalan girls between the ages of 13-17 have experienced sexual violence
  • 30% of indigenous girls are married by age 18

Where We Work

WJI works in 73 Maya Kaqchikel-speaking, rural communities across 5 municipalities in the department of Chimaltenango (Guatemala) and is sharing its methodology and providing technical assistance with civil society organizations in other parts of Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico.

WJI Program Participants

The average WJI program participant…

  • – Gets married by age 20, with 33% of WJI participants married before age 18
  • – Has her first child by age 21

Among WJI program participants…

  • – 15% of participants with children are raising them as single mothers
  • – 94% of participants work in the informal labor market, meaning they face job insecurity, receive no benefits, and have little power to advocate for their labor rights
  • – 79% of program participants speak Maya Kaqchikel

What we do

  • WJI employs a holistic, community-based approach to improve women and girls access to justice, prevent gender-based violence, and end child marriage. 100% of our services are is offered in the local Maya language.

  • The Women’s Rights Education Program teaches women about their rights and helps build the self-esteem and the communication skills necessary to exercise those rights

  • WJI provides free legal support in cases related to VAWG and economic rights, and works with government entities and community actors to strengthen institutional responses to survivors of violence

  • To sustain change for the long-term, WJI trains local women to become Community Advocates, or rights educators and mentors in their communities

  • Advocates also help lead the Adolescent Girls Program which improves girls’ knowledge of their right sand encourages them to delay marriage

2022 Highlight : 10 Year Anniversary Event

In 2022 WJI celebrated a Decade of Success. We commemorated the occasion with members of our team, our dedicated board, special guests, and long-standing partners.

Our inspiring honorees, Luis von Ahn and Kim Koopersmith, are two trailblazers and leaders in their industries, dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls and promoting social justice.

We are so grateful to everyone who has helped make the last ten years  a resounding success.

2022 Impact Statistics

0

women, men and girls benefitted from WJI’s programs

0

women and girls gained knowledge and skills to prevent child marriage and gender-based violence.

0

women graduated from WJI's legal literacy program.

0

women received legal services from WJI.

0

women completed their two-year training to become Community Advocates.

0

police officers, service providers, and local leaders were trained in adequate responses to VAWG.

Regional Expansion Highlight:

WJI in Mesoamerica

WJI is a regional partner with the Women’s Economic Empowerment in Mesoamerica Initiative, funded by USAID, which aims to reduce gender-based violence and human trafficking. WJI extends its expertise by providing training and technical assistance to community-based organizations in Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras, helping them to adopt a contextually relevant version of WJI’s legal empowerment methodology. Collaborating with sustainable, women-led initiatives across the region builds upon WJI’s successful legacy of creating stronger, safer communities and sets the foundation for regional growth.

Regional Expansion Highlight

Rosa Xocoxic (WJI Paralegal) and Rut Curruchich (WJI Outreach Coordinator) lead the project. The two women boast thirty years of combined experience in gender-based violence response and prevention, women’s rights, and community development. Rosa and Rut understand the unique barriers that indigenous women face, both through personal experience as Maya Kaqchikel women and through their extensive work serving indigenous communities across Guatemala.

Regional Expansion Highlight

Rosa says, “It’s been a real challenge, though a rewarding one, to work in diverse contexts.”Most recently, through extensive legal research and conversations with local experts, Rosa and Rut adapted WJI’s methodology to consider the specific experience of indigenous women in Southern Mexico.  “ Mexico has a more advanced legal framework regarding women’s rights, but rural indigenous women there face barriers to accessing justice.”

Regional Expansion Highlight

Rosa and Rut report that the women who participate in the workshops demonstrate curiosity and enthusiasm to learn more about their rights, and are willing to discuss the violence they experience or see in their communities. Rut states, “We have not gone a single day without participants sharing with us cases of violence.”

Rut and Rosa look for solutions based on local practices. For example, women in Oaxaca mentioned the traditional practice of tequio, where members of indigenous communities donate their time or resources to improve the community. Rosa and Rut immediately recognized tequio as analogous to a Maya Kaqchikel equivalent, called faena. From there, the WJI team and the Oaxacan women launched a plan to incorporate legal services and accompaniment into this traditional practice.

Regional Expansion Highlight

WJI’s proven methodology underscores the importance of seeking solutions based on  contextually relevant practices and the knowledge of community members. Designing effective programming based on local expertise and experience is what makes WJI a regional leader in advancing justice for indigenous women and girls.

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Setting Precedents:

WJI’s Legal Team Triumphs in School Sexual Abuse Case

In many of the rural, indigenous communities where WJI works, sexism and discrimination often prevent survivors of violence from reporting abuse or accessing the legal system. Guatemala has some of the highest rates of impunity for violence against women in the world – 98% of sexual assault and femicide cases go unpunished. In 2022, WJI’s legal team won an unprecedented judgment for an 11-year old girl, who was a survivor of sexual assault. The case demonstrated to the survivor and the community that the law can be a powerful tool, and that sexual abusers can be held accountable for their crimes.

Setting Precedents

WJI recently represented an11-year old girl who was sexually abused by her teacher.

Upon learning about the assault from her daughter, the mother immediately reported it to the school director. Instead of taking action, the school pressured her to stay silent. Individuals approached her with bribes trying to convince her not to report the assault. But she had no intention of being silenced by her daughter’s abuser and sought assistance from WJI.

Setting Precedents

With WJI’s support and legal accompaniment, the mother and daughter formally reported the crime to the prosecutor’s office. Throughout the trial the mother and daughter faced criticism and were ostracized by their community. They were told to leave their family home, and the mother was ridiculed for “exaggerating” what happened to her daughter. Her daughter faced bullying at school and each court hearing proved emotionally taxing. Many times, the mother wondered if the court process was worth it.

Setting Precedents

But with WJI’s support, the mother and daughter stood firm in their decision to seek justice. WJI’s legal team provided comprehensive legal support, including accompaniment to collect and submit evidence for the trial, coaching for witness cross examination, legal advice related to process, and referrals to receive psychological counseling. The mother credits WJI’s emotional and legal support as the reason they continued with the trial despite all of the backlash they received.

Setting Precedents

In October 2022, the court found the teacher guilty and sentenced him to 11 years in prison, the maximum sentence for the crime. The defendant was ordered to pay reparations to the survivor. The judge also mandated that the local Ministry of Education train administrators, teachers, students, and parents on recognizing and reporting sexual violence.

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“As Women, We Matter”: Fostering Leadership

Bety Oxi García: Mayor 

Maya women continue to be excluded from political participation in Guatemala; 20% of the recently elected Guatemalan Congress is composed of women, of which only one is an indigenous woman. WJI builds women’s leadership skills, confidence, and knowledge of their rights, so that more women can participate in local decision-making and begin to shift social norms and transform their communities.

“As Women, We Matter”: Fostering Leadership

Every year, people in rural Guatemala elect a new mayor to govern their communities and represent the interest of the people. In 2023, Bety Oxi’s husband was elected to the position in a community in San Juan Comalapa but left the country shortly after and named Bety to serve in his place. Bety, a Kaqchikel woman and a graduate from WJI’s Women’s Rights Education Program, became the first woman from her community to hold the position.

“As Women, We Matter”: Fostering Leadership

As the only woman among eleven elected officials, Bety’s courage and success in the role illustrate what women can accomplish when they feel empowered to politically participate. Bety says that recognizing her self-worth is one of the greatest lessons learned from WJI’s workshops, “as women, we matter.” Bety notes that before participating in WJI’s programs, she believed she had no value.

“As Women, We Matter”: Fostering Leadership

Machista and patriarchal attitudes are prevalent in rural Guatemala and for Bety, occupying a public position has been a challenge. She has faced criticism that targets not just her abilities as a leader, but the simple fact that she is a woman. She says that if she had not received training from WJI, she would have never been brave enough to accept the opportunity to serve in public office. A testament to her determination, Bety has built strong relationships with her male colleagues, who support and encourage her success.

“As Women, We Matter”: Fostering Leadership

Bety is succeeding in a role traditionally reserved for men in her community, she has done so with confidence and courage. She says she feels fortunate that women in her community now see her as a role model. Reflecting on her role as an indigenous woman participating in public office, she says:

“Women look at me and think that they can do it too, they get excited and say that they think about running for public office.”

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Cultivating Relationships, Strengthening Institutions

Interview with the District Attorney in San Juan Comalapa

WJI partners with government officials and service providers to strengthen referral pathways for survivors of violence and to improve resources for rural indigenous women. In San Juan Comalapa, WJI has established a valuable relationship with the public prosecutor ‘s office. WJI sat down with the head of the office, District Attorney, David Rosales López, who reflected on the importance of the services provided by WJI and the impact generated by strengthening local institutions.

Cultivating Relationships, Strengthening Institutions

WJI invests in relationships with local authorities and community leaders, which strengthens the coordination among entities and improves the municipalities holistic response to survivors of violence. District Attorney López considers WJI to be an indispensable resource for the municipality, stating “WJI is well known in rural communities…and is recognized for its work with government institutions and organizations in the municipal protection network…[Now] Community leaders refer women to WJI and women who don’t have economic resources to hire a lawyer know they can get free legal help.”

Cultivating Relationships, Strengthening Institutions

“WJI helps women who are trapped in cycles of violence, women who need personalized attention, and whose financial means limit their ability to hire an attorney,” explains López. When women seek assistance from government entities they face many challenges, including limited services, linguistic barriers, and complex bureaucratic processes. WJI’s presence means that these offices can now refer women to an organization where they receive support from women who speak their language and who can help them navigate a complicated judicial system. “It’s important for women to know that they are not alone.”

Cultivating Relationships, Strengthening Institutions

López believes patriarchal social norms are one of the biggest challenges to addressing violence against women and girls (VAWG) and acknowledges that the prosecutor’s office has a hard time raising awareness. “This society is machista, about 35% of the complaints we receive are related to VAWG. We do give talks about prevention, but [because of time constraints, and limited personnel], it’s not prioritized.” López commends WJI’s focus on training municipal service providers and engaging men and community leaders, acknowledging that sensitivity training and education are key to preventing gender-based violence.

Cultivating Relationships, Strengthening Institutions

“WJI has had a positive impact on women and has been a great help to Comalapa,” not just ensuring that women can defend themselves, but by shifting broader attitudes that will lead to transformative change.

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Our Impact to Date

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direct beneficiaries

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indirect beneficiaries

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community leaders, police, and government officials trained

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legal cases related to economic rights or violence against women

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women trained as leaders, mentors, and rights educators in their communities

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graduates from the Women's Rights Education Program

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graduates from the Adolescent Girls Program

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parents and community leaders have gained the skills through WJI workshops to prevent child marriage

Financials

Expenses - $0

Programs: $0
Administration: $0
Development: $0
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Revenue - $0

Foundations: $0
Individuals: $0
Corporations: $0
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2022 Ending Net Assets: $0

Thank You

All of us at WJI are deeply grateful for the steadfast support of our partners, board members, and donors. Your investments and belief in our mission makes our work possible. Thank you for helping us envision a brighter and safer world for women and girls.