The challenge to keep girls safe

Saturday, 23rd of May, 2026

Violence against women and girls in Guatemala is not simply a women’s issue. It is a human rights crisis, and a reflection of deep social inequalities that continue to scar one of Latin America’s most beautiful yet troubled nations.

I have been deeply burdened since returning to Guatemala this week by the way so many women and girls have their lives destroyed by violence.

As one of the mentoring centres organised an event to celebrate Mother’s Day this week, many girls were finding ways to hide the painful realities of the world they live in.

What brought this all to mind was a trip I made to Boots, the chemist in Amersham, on Monday. I needed to buy vitamins for one of the grandmothers we support, and while I was there, I picked up some protective skin cream. I was overwhelmed by the range of products and only needed a simple cream with a high UV filter.

It was then that I noticed a lady wearing a headscarf carefully checking the information on the boxes. She selected a cream designed to help heal damaged skin, and when she turned towards me, I could clearly see she had a large black eye. She quickly pulled the scarf across the side of her face and quietly made her way to the till.

I wished I could have spoken to her and hoped that perhaps a member of staff might notice and offer some support or advice.

She shuffled her way out of the shop, once again covering one side of her face with the scarf, her head hanging low on her shoulders.

That image stayed with me, and I could not stop thinking about the life she was forced to return to.

Yesterday, I spent time with some of the children in the mentoring programme at La Terminal in Guatemala City.

The squeals of joy, the excitement of being with their friends and the SKDGuatemala team, (intro photo) and the sight of bags of chocolate in my hands made for the perfect welcome back after three months in the UK.

Yet behind the laughter and excitement were deeper struggles.

Two of the girls in the programme may need to be taken into protective care because of violence at home.

The girls' smiles, joy, and natural, playful spirit often hide the reality of their lives when they are away from the safety of the mentoring centre.

One day, one of the girls arrived at the centre with a huge black eye. Throughout the afternoon, she kept one hand covering the side of her face. She was withdrawn and struggled to smile as her friends greeted her.

What struck me most was that not one child asked her what had happened.

There was a silent acknowledgement that her pain was also their pain. The gentle touches on her shoulder and the quiet stroking of her hair by some of the other girls communicated something words could not — they understood, and they cared.

For many girls growing up in Guatemala, violence is not something distant or occasional; it is woven into daily life.

The numbers are both shocking and heartbreaking.

Almost half of Guatemalan women (48.8%) report having experienced some form of violence during their lifetime, while more than one in three women (34.5%) have suffered sexual violence.

Guatemala also continues to record one of the highest rates of femicide in Latin America. In 2022 alone, more than 530 women were killed in acts classified as femicide.

Girls are especially vulnerable. Between 2018 and 2024, nearly 14,700 girls aged 14 and under gave birth in Guatemala, often following sexual abuse or rape. Many crimes are never reported, and countless women continue living alongside those who abuse them.

For those of us working directly with vulnerable children and families in Guatemala, these statistics are not abstract. They have names, faces, and stories.

We meet girls who have stopped attending school because they fear harassment or assault. We support mothers carrying the trauma of domestic violence while desperately trying to protect their children from the same and from the pull of the streets. We hear stories that no child should ever have to tell.

But lasting change requires more than outrage.

It requires investment in prevention, education, justice, and community transformation. It requires men and boys to become part of the solution. And it requires the world not to look away.

Thanks to your support, we are able to play our small part in bringing hope, protection, and safety to some of the most vulnerable children and families.

The last three months of travelling around the UK have taught me one important thing: despite the economic struggles many people face, there remains a deep desire to help make a difference.

Thank you for standing with us as we stand with those who need a champion, those who need protection, and those who simply need a safe place amid their chaotic and often violent lives.