Aug. 31, 2009

VCU representatives visit Guatemala to learn about the causes of violence against women and girls

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Janett Forte, M.S.W., assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry, and Karen Rotabi, Ph.D., assistant professor in the School of Social Work, were part of a delegation visiting Guatemala to study economic, social and political issues surrounding the killing and abuse of women and girls. According to the Guatemala Human Rights Commission, more than 5,500 women have been killed in that country since 2000 and 98 percent of the crimes have gone unpunished. Delegation members visited a domestic violence shelter and met activists who worked to stop the violence. The trip took place from Aug.1 through Aug. 9.

After a day of sharing games and hot cocoa and learning to weave and make corn tortillas in the remote village of Espunpuja, Janett Forte, MSW, assistant professor of psychiatry, (left,) purchases a blanket from a Mayan woman. Photo provided by Janett Forte.
After a day of sharing games and hot cocoa and learning to weave and make corn tortillas in the remote village of Espunpuja, Janett Forte, MSW, assistant professor of psychiatry, (left,) purchases a blanket from a Mayan woman. Photo provided by Janett Forte.


From left: Janett Forte, MSW, assistant professor of psychiatry; Beth Leftwich and Debbie Haynes of the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance and Karen Rotabi, Ph.D., assistant professor of social work, discuss how they’ll act on what they’ve learned when they return to Richmond. Photo provided by Janett Forte.
From left: Janett Forte, MSW, assistant professor of psychiatry; Beth Leftwich and Debbie Haynes of the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance and Karen Rotabi, Ph.D., assistant professor of social work, discuss how they’ll act on what they’ve learned when they return to Richmond. Photo provided by Janett Forte.