With the primary goal of being accountable to the Guatemalan population and showcasing the progress made and challenges identified by the institutions and organizations that make up the National Coordinating Committee for the Immediate Search for Missing Women, as well as those involved in implementing the Missing Women Search Mechanism Isabel-Claudina Alert, the sixth annual report was presented this morning.

The event was attended by Dr. María Consuelo Porras Argueta, Attorney General and Chief of the Public Ministry; Mrs. Lucrecia Vásquez, Secretary for Women’s Affairs; family members of María Isabel Véliz and Claudina Velásquez Paiz, as well as representatives from the institutions and organizations that form the Coordinating Committee, personnel from the Women’s Prosecutor’s Office, and the Isabel-Claudina Alert team.

In her address, the Attorney General stated that the disappearance of women is a complex phenomenon with a severe impact that transcends, negatively affecting their families, close circles, communities, and society. “The report that brings us together today analyzes and emphasizes the phenomenon of women disappearing with their children,” she said.

“This phenomenon represents 24% of all disappearances during the evaluated period, and its analysis was deemed relevant as it highlights the needs of these women, as well as the necessary interventions to address the problem, ensure their rights, and provide care for them and their children,” she added.

She further noted that the arrival of the Isabel-Claudina Alert at its six-year mark reflects the State’s commitment through the implementation of actions to guarantee respect for women’s rights, gender-focused search and investigation, due diligence, the protection of missing women’s integrity, as well as their right to life, dignity, liberty, and non-discrimination.

“It is satisfying to state that these achievements stem from the joint work and efforts of each institution and organization that make up the National Coordinating Committee for the Immediate Search for Missing Women, which this year achieved a 95% success rate in locating women reported as missing,” she emphasized.

For her part, Mrs. Lucrecia Vásquez, Secretary for Women’s Affairs, mentioned that the commemoration of another year of this mechanism is historic, as it has helped prevent greater harm to women who disappear while fleeing from their homes, who have suffered some criminal act in the street, or who suffer from some illness or disability. “The mechanism is a success; achieving 95% effectiveness has been one of the significant challenges accomplished this year,” she expressed.

She also presented the background and discussed how the Isabel-Claudina Alert originated, which began functioning on August 6, 2018. The Mechanism and Alert’s name was given in recognition of the families of María Isabel Véliz Franco and Claudina Isabel Velásquez Paiz and their fight for justice.

“These six years remind us that each alert is about remembering Isabel and Claudina in the immediate search and location of all women who have gone missing; their memory lives on through this, and that is their legacy, not only for their families but also for the Guatemalan people,” she recalled.

The Isabel-Claudina Alert is a tool created to address the phenomenon of missing women nationwide, with the aim of protecting their lives, liberty, security, integrity, and dignity, as well as ensuring their prompt location and protection, thereby preventing them from becoming victims of any crime or abuse.

According to statistical data, from August 6, 2018, to June 30, 2024, a total of 11,300 alerts were activated, of which 10,682 were deactivated, equating to a 95% effectiveness rate. The remaining 5% corresponds to 618 alerts that are still active. Of this total, 2,462 women disappeared with their children.

Among the confirmed circumstances leading to disappearance are violence and human rights violations, involvement in some type of crime, personal reasons, accidents, and conditions of disability.

It is important to note that during the reported period, there was a 2% increase in the effectiveness of locating missing persons compared to the previous period.

The progress in providing an institutional response has been significant; however, challenges remain that need to be addressed in a coordinated manner, which is why we continue to urge the public to join these efforts and reflect on the importance of the first hours, as they are crucial in safeguarding the physical or sexual integrity of a missing woman.

Isabel-Claudina Alert, every second makes a difference!