Women and children, especially girls, as well as LGBTQ people continue to face high levels of severe and persistent danger from gender-based violence in the Northern Triangle countries. According to data released by the Small Arms Survey, El Salvador and Honduras were among the 10 countries not currently involved in armed conflict with the highest rates of femicideāthe murder of womenāin 2016.
14 While the 2017 statistics show a slight decrease in that rate for both countries, the number of female homicides is still very high. For example, El Salvador reported 469 femicides in 2017ādown from 524 in 2016ābut this means that on average, more than nine women and/or girls were killed every week in 2017.
16 Women and children in the Northern Triangle region also face brutal physical and sexual violence at the hands of gang members and other individuals. Additionally, LGBTQ people are also vulnerable to similar abuses and threats in these countries.
18 Often, survivors do not have any avenues to pursue justice, because there is a high level of impunity and lack of protections in these countries.
19 Stories shared by women, children, and LGBTQ people traveling in the caravan cited sexual abuse, severe stress and fear, domestic violence, and rape as reasons for fleeing their countries.
20 These include Nelda, a teenager who left Honduras with her mother and little sister to escape her sexually abusive uncle, a man with gang ties. He threatened to kill them if they did not withdraw their police report against him.
Sorry Nelda but zero tolerance.
