Guatemala

Guatemala’s history is one plagued with violence, civil war and natural disaster; the results of which have left hundreds of thousands displaced, with children accounting for a large proportion of those living and working on the streets. Guatemala City itself is a place of contrasts. It has areas of beauty and opportunity but it’s also a highly dangerous place to live – especially for a child without official recognition. There are an estimated 700,000 children who don’t have a birth certificate and are therefore not recognised by official statistics, so they are not protected by the state. This means they can be used, neglected and abused by gangs and criminals, and are at significant risk of being trafficked.