Project Councelling Services (PCS)

Current situation:  We received a request for accompaniment from Project Counselling Services (PCS) on behalf of a Guatemalan worker of the organisation who suffered a kidnapping, sexual aggression and the theft of a vehicle on 7th May 2007. On 17th May 2007 the same person had received a phone call to their house threatening all the members of the organisation. These facts were reported to the Public Prosecutor Ì?s Office and the Human Rights Ombudsman (PDH). Since this date we have intensively accompanied the person who suffered this grave incident.

Background: Project Counselling Services (PCS) is an international organisation supported by a partnership of agencies in Europe and Canada. Its mission is to strengthen the capacities of refugees and populations affected by displacements and other forms of exclusion to participate in autonomous, democratic and inter-cultural processes, including from a gender perspective, within the framework of the promotion, defense and exercise of human rights. In Guatemala, PCS has been involved with the struggle against impunity relating to human rights violations committed during the armed conflict and in post-conflict Guatemala, with special emphasis on sexual violence. On Monday, 7th May 2007 a worker was the victim of a temporary kidnapping during which they suffered verbal, physical and sexual aggression. The PCS vehicle in which they were travelling and which was carrying Ì?International Mission Ì? signage was stolen. On 17th May 2007 the same worker received a telephone threat in their home in which a male voice stated:  ̈ (Expletive), that wasn’t enough... We told you not to do anything. You didn’t get it. We are going to break your ass and those of the lesbians and whores in your office. We know who you are and what you do. Don’t mess around, leave things as they are. ̈