A resolution expressing the sympathy of the Senate to the families of women and girls murdered in Guatemala, and encouraging the United States to work with Guatemala to bring an end to these crimes.

Bill: 110-sres-178
Sponsor: Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]
Introduced: 2007-05-01 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Child abuse
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Commemorations
Congressional tributes
Crime and Law Enforcement
Crimes against women
Criminal investigation
Families
Family violence
Forensic medicine
Government Operations and Politics
Guatemala
Health
Human rights
Judges
Judicial officers
Kidnapping
Latin America
Law
Law enforcement officers
Misconduct in office
Missing persons
Murder
Police
Police training
Prosecution
Public prosecutors
Rule of law
Sexual harassment
Torture
Victims of crimes
Witnesses
Women
Women's rights

Summary:
action_date: 2007-05-01
text: 
Expresses condolences to the families of women and girls murdered in Guatemala and recognizes the families' courage in seeking justice. 
 
 Condemns the ongoing abductions and murders of women and girls in Guatemala. 
 
Urges the government of Guatemala to recognize domestic violence and sexual harassment as criminal acts and encourages the government of Guatemala to investigate the killings of women, prosecute those responsible, and eliminate the tolerance of violence against women. 
 
Encourages the Secretary of State and the Attorney General to provide assistance in establishing a comprehensive missing persons system and a state protection program for witnesses, victims' relatives, and human rights defenders.
 
Encourages the Secretary to support efforts to identify perpetrators and unknown victims through forensic analysis, including assisting the government of Guatemala in adequately funding the National Institute for Forensic Science (INACIF) and training lab personnel in investigatory and evidence gathering protocols.
 
Recommends that the Secretary develop a comprehensive plan to combat the growing problem of violence against women in Latin America.

action_date: 2008-03-10
text: 
Expresses condolences to the families of women and girls murdered in Guatemala and recognizes the families' courage in seeking justice. 
 
Expresses the solidarity of the people of the United States with the people of Guatemala in the face of these tragic acts.
 
 Condemns the ongoing abductions and murders of women and girls in Guatemala. 
 
Urges the government of Guatemala to: (1) strengthen laws with respect to domestic violence and sexual harassment, improve the integrity of the prosecutorial and judicial systems, and provide the resources to enforce justice for crimes against women; and (2) hold accountable law enforcement and judicial officials who have failed to investigate and prosecute the murders. 
 
Encourages the Secretary of State and the Attorney General to provide assistance in establishing a comprehensive missing persons system and a state protection program for witnesses, victims' relatives, and human rights defenders.
 
Encourages the Secretary to support efforts to identify perpetrators and unknown victims through forensic analysis, including assisting the government of Guatemala in adequately funding the National Institute for Forensic Science (INACIF) and training lab personnel in investigatory and evidence gathering protocols.
 
Recommends that the Secretary develop a comprehensive plan to combat the growing problem of violence against women in Latin America.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-03-10
text: Resolution agreed to in Senate with amendments and an amended preamble by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR 3/11/2008 S1890-1891)
action_date: 2008-03-10
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Resolution agreed to in Senate with amendments and an amended preamble by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR 3/11/2008 S1890-1891)
action_date: 2008-03-10
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S1823)
action_date: 2008-03-10
text: Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2008-03-10
text: Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2007-05-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5398-5399)
action_date: 2007-05-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5399-5400)
action_date: 2007-05-01
text: Introduced in Senate