The following is an article written (translated from Spanish) by CIMAC Noticias, a Mexican organization.
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A Year of Challenges for Sexual and Reproductive Health For Women
By Patricia Alicia and Ana Silvia Monzón
The 2011 has been a year of contrasts on issues related to sexual and reproductive rights. While progress has been made as strengthening the public audit work through the Reproductive Health Observatory, the Network of Indigenous Women for Reproductive Health and Multidisciplinary Group for the Defense of Sexual and Reproductive Rights, among others, the dominant discourses in the election campaign that lasted several months and that was won at a former military-were permeated by ignorance, prejudice and indifference to the human dramas that implies a lack of education, prevention and care issues associated with human sexuality.

Statistics
In Guatemala sexual and reproductive rights of women are severely limited by gender and ethnic inequalities that put girls and women, especially indigenous and rural areas at a disadvantage compared to their partners, limiting their autonomy to decide their sexuality and motherhood. The State does not guarantee social conditions favorable to assume the pregnancy, including relevant information, proper nutrition, prenatal and delivery care. So a good percentage of pregnant women facing pregnancy and motherhood in poor condition and high vulnerability.

In this context, reproductive health concern presents a profile observed in the indicators of teen pregnancy and maternal mortality. In 2011 there were more than 47, 000 cases teen pregnancy between 10 to 17 years old who, many times, see dashed their chances for personal development. Many of these pregnancies are the result of abuse and rape, according to the follow-up made ​​by the Centre in Reproductive Health. This violence is also one of the main causes that lead to abortion practiced in unsanitary conditions that threaten the lives of women, as it is still classified as a crime under national law.

Maternal deaths remain high in the country, according to the National Maternal Mortality Study, 2007, submitted in December 2011, which states that there were 137 maternal deaths in 2007, which represented a reduction while 8.7 percent the period (2000-2007), with an average drop of 1.24 percent per year, still place the country with one of the highest rates in Latin America, according to Dr. Miriam Betancourt, coordinator of the National Reproductive Health Program. This are the latest official data, which shows the difficulties of having updated information on a sensitive issue.

The figures yielded by the study indicate that nine departments with concentrations of maternal deaths, six of them have a high percentage of indigenous population. In fact, the maternal mortality rate is significantly higher among indigenous women, 163.0, 77.7 Ladino than women. Furthermore, the incidence in rural areas is much higher with 66.3 percent of cases, compared to urban area recorded 33.7 percent.

Other conditions, such as schooling and high fertility, they also expose women to die during or after childbirth. According to the report cited by the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Planning and Programming of the Presidency, 88 percent of deaths occur in women with no or little schooling, and cases are more common among women who have had more than four sons and daughters.

It should be noted that maternal deaths are still due to several factors: cultural order associated with machismo at home because, often, is the husband who decides when to move the mother, economic, lack of resources to pay transportation or specialized care when high-risk cases. Also, the lack of adequate services, and nearby Mayan languages ​​makes the difference between life or death of a woman who, in the twenty-first century, risks his life to the time of delivery.

This picture must be added the progression of HIV-AIDS epidemic, especially in women aged 20 to 24 years and restrictions on access to family planning methods, particularly in populations with low education and living in distant parts of the network of health.  

State Response
Although Congress passed the Safe Motherhood in 2010, it still lacks a regulation and resources for their implementation. Among the recommendations of the Study on Maternal Mortality already mentioned, it was decided to develop a national policy on Safe Motherhood and ensure food security and nutrition of pregnant women, provision of vitamin boosters and access to immunizations. Also to provide universal coverage and access to maternal health services - Neonatal-quality, gender and multiculturalism. And very important, as is to perform actions on reproductive health education in all educational levels and through national media social

In that vein, the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Education launched a pilot sex education in the departments with the highest rates of maternal mortality and teenage pregnancies. To comply with these commitments the Presidential Secretariat for Women (SEPREM) is closely monitoring this process and actively participated in the second seminar "Prevention through Education", held in December 2011.  

Iniciativas Cuidadanas
The plight of sexual and reproductive rights organizations mobilized women, feminists and civil society to influence the performance of sexual and reproductive rights of women.
As part of the actions that the organization Tierra Viva, for more than a decade promoting the campaign against fundamentalism, as a means to legalize abortion and continues with a media monitoring sexual and reproductive rights. In a matching line, work the Multidisciplinary Group for the Defense of Sexual and Reproductive Rights. While CERIGUA News Agency highlighted in the news coverage and treatment of sexual and reproductive rights, generated particularly at departmental level.
The Centre for Reproductive Health (Dare) continued to organize meetings of Midwives and supporting situational socialization rooms provided by the National Sexual and Reproductive Health at the departmental level, and advocacy in both the Congress and to the State health authorities.
The National Alliance of Indigenous Women's Organizations for Reproductive Health, Nutrition and Education (Redmisar) achieved the inclusion of an article in the 2012 Budget Act to purchase contraceptive supplies at affordable costs with specialized international organizations in the field. This action is joined the National Birth Control Assurance (CNAA).
Feersigua Association and the mechanism of indigenous research Oxlajuj Tz'ikin presented "Indigenous women sex workers in Chimaltenango: social, sexual and reproductive rights," which addresses a topic that has been considered taboo in indigenous communities.
The Association for Family Welfare (APROFAM) promoted the collective organization of Youth without Censorship for Comprehensive Sexuality Education and a virtual page of information, consultation and expert advice on sex education for young people.
As Uxil Association, based in Petén, produces the show "Sex tips radio" and the drama "Roulette" as well as creative sex education campaigns aimed at young people, particularly the northern region.
This year also launched the National Campaign for Sexuality Education, sponsored by 10 organizations, with the aim of adolescents and young people to demand the implementation of sex education in public and private schools and health services, and compliance of the Law of Universal and Equitable Access to Family Planning Services.

Balance
Cultural and religious patterns, lack of resources in the health system, neglect and violence are factors that still prevent women from exercising their rights to decide over her own body, to have scientific and secular sexual information and care quality in relation to their sexuality and reproductive lives. In 2011 there were ups and downs, those working on sexual and reproductive rights hope that the new officials take office on January 14, continue to have good practices and strategic compass rights as women.