On Wednesday May 1, the U.S. House of Representatives passed House Resolution
100, urging the U.S. government to work with Guatemala in addressing violence
against women in Guatemala and the unsolved murders of more than 2,500 women
and girls since 2001. H. Res. 100 was sponsored by Congresswoman Hilda L. Solis
(D-California) and cosponsored by Representatives Engel, Lantos, Lee and Burton.
» See Representative
Solis’ floor speech on the Resolution, and her acknowledgement of Amnesty International.
In her words to the House, Rep. Solis thanks Amnesty International for supporting
the bill, along with the Washington Office on Latin America, Guatemala Human
Rights Commission, Human Rights First, and the Central American Resource Center.
Action during recent weeks by Amnesty International staff and activists was
key in helping Rep. Solis garner strong bipartisan support for the Resolution,
which passed with 100 co-sponsors. Rep. Solis stressed that few of the killings
of women have ever been investigated, and even fewer have resulted in convictions,
but that the Resolution will “increase the international pressure needed
to stop violence against women” in Guatemala.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone who contacted their Congressional
representatives to ask them to cosponsor the resolution.
»
See the resolution.