During Guatemala's brutal civil war, which tore the country apart for decades, countless atrocities were committed. [17, 24] Among the victims were 36 Mayan women who endured horrific acts of violence.
These women were systematically assaulted, meaning the attacks were methodical and organized. [31, 38] Despite the severity of these crimes, they went unpunished for nearly forty years, a grim reflection of a flawed justice system.
After four long decades of living with the trauma, the women decided that their suffering should not remain invisible. [25, 28] They harbored a collective resolve to seek accountability.
They understood that silence would only perpetuate injustice. In a final, courageous bid for justice, they united to bring their case to the national court. [14, 18, 35]
They fought back, not with weapons, but with the power of their testimonies. [5, 9, 34] Their goal was not only to see their attackers held responsible but also to ensure that such history would never be forgotten or repeated.
Their struggle became a landmark case, representing a monumental fight against impunity and a powerful call for human rights in a post-conflict society.