The representatives of rural, indigenous, and peasant women who were at the People’s Summit in Lima last week said that at least 14 women who were working as agricultural leaders were killed in the past two years in Honduras and Guatemala.
The People’s Summit took place in the framework of the UN Summit on Climate Change (COP20), a global meeting that concentrates politicians, experts and environmentalists who want to create a fund to support actions to prevent the planet from suffering more harm.
Maria Villanueva, Coordinator of Rural Women of Honduras, explained that the women were killed because they were working so the Honduran woman could gain access to land for their crops and feed their families.
"Guatemala and Honduras are the countries experiencing the strongest persecution and criminalization of leadership," said Maria Vasquez, from Red MURIC.
The latest killing of an agricultural leader occurred in August in Honduras. Margarita Murillo was killed because she demanded Honduran women had equal opportunities for growing their fruit and vegetables, Oxfam lamented.
The number of women leaders attacked may be higher because the records are not classified under that parameter, said the agricultural representatives.
According to the reports of the Vulnerable Central America Forum, male activists are also persecuted.
Honduras is one of the countries that make up Central America’s Northern Triangle, the most dangerous region of the world. That country has the highest murder rate.
According to official figures, more than 3,000 women have been murdered in the last 10 years. Villanueva regretted that crime had become another obstacle for women to overcome. The activist stated that the absence of justice promoted more crimes.
Source: LaPrensaGrafica.com