§ Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government have taken to persuade the Government of Guatemala(a) to prosecute the murderers of street youths, with particular reference to murders in which the police are believed to have been involved, and (b) to give better general care and protection to Guatemala's street children. [109039]
§ Mr. BattleWe regularly raise human rights concerns generally, and those of street children specifically, with the Government of Guatemala. For example, we have lobbied the Guatemalan Government to enact its Child Code legislation, which would offer greater legal protection to children.
Our Embassy in Guatemala has made a number of inquiries about the state of investigations into the murders or abuse of street children. NGOs working in this area suggest that abuse of street children by state agencies has decreased in the past few years. Street children are more frequently incidental victims of the prevalent violent street crime in Guatemala. There is also an increasing incidence of serious violence between the street children themselves, mostly as a result of an increase in drug trafficking and addiction by and among these children.
The European Union is providing 200 million euros in 1997–2000 towards projects supporting the Peace Programme in Guatemala. The UK's contribution amounts to about £24 million. About a third of the EU funding is dedicated to establishing a National Civil Police Force and strengthening the administration of justice. We expect one consequence of the reform of the police and judiciary to be better treatment of street children. We also indirectly promote human rights and challenge impunity through our support for the UN Verification Mission in Guatemala (MINUGUA).
In addition to working with the Guatemalan Government to protect and care for street children, we also provide support directly. In 1999 we gave £13,500 to an NGO, Toybox (known locally as El Castillo), to finance building a hostel for rehabilitating street children outside Guatemala City. In 1998 we gave £75,000 to Toybox for a similar project.
We shall continue to convey to the Guatemalan authorities our concern for the well-being of street children in Guatemala.