Guatemala City, by Kevin Castillo -AGN- Authorities presented the fifth annual progress report on the Immediate Search Mechanism for Missing Women, known as the Isabel-Claudina Alert. The search mechanism complies with the Law of Immediate Search for Missing Women, establishing a framework to safeguard reported missing women’s lives, freedom, security, integrity, and dignity.
The report provides the data collected between July 2022 and June 2023.
Institutions In Coordinated Efforts
Among the institutions that comprise the National Coordinating Committee for the Immediate Search Mechanism for Missing Women are:
- Public Ministry
- National Civil Police
- Migration Institute of Guatemala
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Attorney General’s Office (Protection of Women’s Rights Unit)
- Secretariat of Social Communication of the Presidency
- Ministry of the Interior
- Secretariat against Sexual Violence, Exploitation, and Human Trafficking
- Converge Mujeres
- Cáritas Social Pastoral, Verapaz
The results achieved through this immediate search mechanism are due to the excellent work and support of the various institutions that comprise it.
Attendance
Some of the authorities that attended the presentation of the fifth report were:
- The Attorney General of Guatemala and head of the Public Ministry, Dr. María Consuelo Porras Argueta
- Geovani René Castillo Polanco, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Erick Rolando Sagastume Álvarez, Undersecretary of Social Communication of the Presidency
- Wuelmer Ubener Gómez González, Attorney General of the Nation
- Karol Lily Castro Girón, Chief of Intervention in Community Relations of the PNC General Sub-Directorate for Crime Prevention
- Lucrecia Vásquez, Head of the Public Ministry Secretariat for Women’s Affairs.
Statistics from 2018 to 2023
The Immediate Search Mechanism for Missing Women, the Isabel-Claudina Alert, was launched on August 6, 2018. From that date until June 30, 2023, 9,469 alerts have been activated.
Authorities have located 8,840 of the missing women, which indicates an effectiveness of 93%. Six hundred and twenty-nine of the alerts remain active.
A total of 2.9% (259) of the missing women have been found dead. Most deaths have been due to violence (124), 82 to unspecified causes, 25 died of natural causes, 22 due to accidents, and six to possible suicides.
Statistics from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023
Two thousand fifteen alerts were activated during 2022-2023, 88% (1,774) were deactivated, and 12% (241) are still active. Fourty-eight of the missing women were found deceased.
Women aged 21 to 30 represent 41% (825) of the alerts, and women from 18 to 20 years compose another 24% (475). Ages 31 to 40 represent 19% (382), and a smaller percentage of women aged 41 and above.
Out of 2,015 active alerts, 423 women disappeared with their sons or daughters, resulting in the activation of 220 Alba-Keneth alerts. Sixty-one of these women had previous reports as victims of violence against women.
ording to the data, the months with the highest activated alerts were October 2022, with 194, and January 2023, with 181. Additionally, 17% of the women were reported missing on Sundays, 18% of the alerts were activated on Mondays, and 16% were found on Tuesdays.
The departments with the highest activation of alerts for missing women are:
- Guatemala, 745 alerts.
- Escuintla, 127 alerts.
- Quetzaltenango, 110 alerts.
The Attorney General indicated that the creation of the Immediate Search Mechanism responds to the phenomenon of missing women in the country. It ensures their prompt location and protection and prevents them from becoming victims of any crime.
The report showcases the results of interinstitutional efforts, reflecting the main achievements and challenges during these years of work.
