Light of Life: the women standing against gender-based violence in Petén, Guatemala

Sexual and gender-based violence is a prevalent and deeply rooted issue in Guatemala. A recent report published by Human Rights Watch (2025) concluded that over a third of women in Guatemala had experienced sexual violence in their lifetime, though this figure is likely higher than data would indicate as many incidents go unreported.

To help address this widespread violations, ActionAid Guatemala partnered with Fundación ProPetén and Ixqik Association to set up a community response and support networks for survivors of violence. They provided training on how to recognise different forms of gender-based violence, strategies on how to effectively address them and how to offer timely and appropriate care to survivors.

In Petén, a group of 25 women became an example of how effective community-based women’s networks can be. These leaders applied their knowledge to intervene in real cases, providing support and guidance to survivors, informing them of their rights, signposting them to appropriate services and showing them they are not alone.

Among these leaders was Luisa, 58, who is part of the Luz de Vida women’s group which means ‘Light of Life.’ She says,

‘I have been working with Luz de Vida for five years. From the beginning of the training it has been very useful for me to know my rights, to know that men and women have the same rights, and how to address domestic violence.’

‘I had a very personal experience when my daughter suffered from domestic violence. I helped her to access medical care and report the incident.’

The women of Luisa's group meet periodically to review their projects and share their experiences. Luisa is a community leader now, where she does her utmost to ensure women in her neighbourhood can access their right to a life free from violence.