M E D I A R E L E A S E
For immediate release: February 28, 2003
International Women’s Week
March 3 – March 9:
“Guatemalan organization working with women threatened”
(Cobourg, ON) During International Women’s Week (March 3 – March 9) Horizons of Friendship is inviting all Canadians to reflect on the situation of women around the world. In particular, it welcomes support for Consejo Campesino Kabawil, a Guatemalan NGO (non-governmental organization) which amongst other things is working with Mayan women to establish community stores in order to improve their income-earning opportunities.
Patricia Rebolledo, Executive Director of Horizons of Friendship, laments that the work of improving women’s lives around the world continues to be highly dangerous–in January of this year, while executive members of Kabawil were travelling with a French NGO, they were pursed by two vehicles and fired upon several times: “This was not some random act of violence – other vehicles were not targeted on that highway. This was clearly an act designed to either actively injure or initimidate the leadership of Kabawil, ”said Ms. Rebolledo.
Fortunately no passengers in the Kabawil vehicle were inured, nevertheless Horizons of Friendship sent a letter to Canada’s Ambassador to Guatemala, Jamie Lambert, outlining the incident and requesting his support in pressing Guatemalan authorities to thoroughly investigate the matter.
“Those who work for human rights in Guatemala, in particular women’s human rights, are considered to be threatening by certain powerful forces in that society. Our support of Kabawil’s work is vital as is the continuing efforts by our government to ensure human rights are respected in that country,.” said Ms. Rebolledo.
Recently, Horizons of Friendship received a letter from the Canadian Ambassador indicating that the Canadian government “remains deeply concerned with the continued level of violence in Guatemala”. However, the letter did not indicate if any “special consideration” was made in pressing for an effective investigation of the Kabawil incident.
“We are appreciative of our government’s diplomatic efforts in Guatemala and especially its efforts to strengthen the office of Guatemalan Ombudsman for Human rights. However, this incident represents an unfortunate escalation of violence and intimidation in Guatemala as it approaches a national election.” said Ms. Rebolledo.
Horizons of Friendship intendes to bring the Kabawil incident to the attention of Northumberland M.P., Paul Macklin, in hopes that he will do the same with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bill Graham. In addition, Horizons noted that the Canadian government is presently undertaking a Foreign Policy “dialogue” which all Canadians can participate in through an online forum at http://www.foreign_policy_dialogue.ca/en/welcome/index.html
For further information on supporting Kabawil or International Women’s Week please contact Jessica Farias at 905-372-5483 Ext.24 or jfarias@horizons.ca
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