A country of striking features and a strong indigenous culture, Guatemala's natural beauty and powerful identity stand in stark contrast to its bloody past and troubled present..

Many children in Guatemala have been orphaned by civil war and violence. Children are also abandoned by parents too poor to cope. Some are runaways from physical or sexual abuse within the family.

In Guatemala, the richest 20% of the population own 60% of the overall wealth, leaving the poorest 20% of the population owning just 3%.

In Guatemala two thirds of children live in poverty (World Fact Book  www.worldfactbook.com)

Shocking statistics:

In the last year (2008-2009) a child was abandoned in Guatemala city every 4 days. Most were babies. (Joint Council on International Children’s Services, Feb 2009)

More than 10 children die every week as a result of violence, 52% of these from gunshot wounds (Office of Human Rights of the Archdiocese of Guatemala, Oct 2009)

On the streets of Guatemala...

• 40% of street children are from other countries (Conociendo a La Infancia que Vive en la Calle: p.58. Publication resulting from the collaboration between Casa Alianza, the University of Social Work in Gijón and the City Council of Gijón – hereafter cited as ‘Conociendo’)
• 90% of children on the streets have been victims of some form of sexual abuse (Conociendo)
  

Children soon fall prey to violence, exploitation and disease. They are rejected by society and known as 'disposable'. They become victims of harrassment and violent abuse. Some are shot by police. Guatemalan street children have been known to have been killed in extrajudicial executions.
Many children seek to numb the pain and loneliness by turning to solvent abuse.

• 90% of street children have had contact with drugs (Conociendo)

At high risk...

29% of children aged five to fourteen are involved in child labour and are being sent out to work in difficult and dangerous conditions (UN).

63% of children complete primary school education – over 95% enrol, but there are high drop-out rates are due to poverty or the fact that these children have to work. (UN)

1200 children were orphaned by Hurricane Stan in 2005 (Terrazzono, Lauren, (23/10/2005) “Guatemala faces child welfare crisis” Google Groups.)

A Violent History

• 80% of gun related deaths are of 15 to 17 year olds (ODHAG 2005 report)
• 150-200 boys are sent to jail every month (and 50 girls) (ODHAG 2005 report)
• There are up to 200,000 children involved with gangs (ODHAG 2005 report)

408 children were killed in the first 10 months of 2002 alone. This is a 27% increase from 2001. Some were killed in gangs, others by security forces, and others in drive-by shootings.

In September 1996, sixteen-year-old Ronald Raúl Ramos was shot and killed by a drunken Treasury Police Officer. More than ten other street children in Guatemala were murdered that year under suspicious circumstances, yet in April the following year all the perpetrators were still at large.

Guatemala - Facts and Figures

• Population: 13.7 million (UN, 2008)
• Population living below the poverty line: 56%
• Official language: Spanish
• Other languages: over 20 Mayan languages
• Life expectancy: 67 years (men), 74 years (women) (UN)
• Monetary unit: 1 quetzal = 100 centavos
• Main exports: Coffee, sugar, bananas, fruits and vegetables, meat, petroleum, cardamon
• External debt: $3.908 (CIA 2006 estimate)
• Environmental issues: volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, torrential rain, hurricanes. Hurricane Stan in 2005 brought rains, floods and mudslides that affected around 1.5 million people.
• Education: 73% of adults are literate

Read more:

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Street children facts
Street children in Bolivia
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