New trauma-informed facilities helping women and children in Latin America

February 2025

At the end of last year, IJM, along with local government and community partners, remodeled five facilities in Guatemala and El Salvador to improve access to justice and support survivors of violence to heal.

Spacious and furnished to create a welcoming and secure environment, these five new facilities will help more women and children feel safer when they need to report a crime.

The creation of these spaces is essential in regions where victims of abuse often feel afraid to report it. In various regions of Guatemala and El Salvador, women and children often find themselves trying to report a case of violence in places without privacy or safety.

“Victims were giving statements of what happened to them publicly, at the door of the police station. That door is right in front of the central park where perpetrators can track what victims are doing”, says Elliot Palma, Director of Justice Solutions at IJM Guatemala.

Under such conditions, victims reasonably avoid interacting with the justice system for fear of what might happen to them if the aggressor finds out.

Safety is not the only thing at risk. When justice system facilities do not provide a private and peaceful environment, survivors’ dignity and healing are also at stake. Without privacy, women and children can experience more trauma associated with describing their abuse to strangers.

Facilities where victims receive services must be appropriate for the needs of the people they serve. Combating violence against women and children in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras demands better access to justice for those living in vulnerable conditions.

That access requires holistic and innovative interventions - from passing laws to building appropriate facilities. IJM is helping bring that change in Latin America.