Two incidents last month brought the issue of children’s rights in Guatemala to the fore – a blaze following a riot at a children’s centre, Hogar Seguro Virgen de la Asunción, on 8 March which killed 41 girls, and a riot at the Centro Estatal Etapa II (Etapa II) prison for juveniles and adults on 19 March which left four prison guards dead. The violence at both institutions (which are administered by the social welfare secretariat [SBS] whose directors have since been fired) shocked the local and international community alike. It serves as the latest reminder of the ways in which the Guatemalan State falls woefully short of protecting children’s rights. End of preview - This article contains approximately 1099 words.
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