Women survivors in the courtroom of the Sepur Zarco trial in Guatemala City. Photo: Camila UrrutiaBy now, the words “Sepur Zarco” should be on the tip of the tongue of anyone with even a passing interest in international human rights. This landmark trial, charging two former military officers with sexual slavery inflicted during Guatemala’s civil war, concluded on February 26 with a guilty verdict against the perpetrators sentencing them to 360 years imprisonment—a blow against impunity and a step towards justice for the survivors.
Former base commander Esteelmer Reyes Girón charged with sexual and domestic slavery and forced disappearance. Photo: Camila Urrutia
This is a human rights victory, but a question remains: what does the Sepur Zarco trial mean for survivors of all forms of wartime sexual violence beyond Guatemala’s borders? The trajectory of this case helps point to an answer.
