# Central American Women and Children Protection Act of 2021

This bill authorizes the U.S. State Department to spend $25 million per year for 2022 and 2023 to help El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras combat violence against women and children. The money would fund partnerships between the U.S. government and these three countries to tackle what has become a serious crisis in the region.

The bill addresses a real problem: these three Central American countries have some of the world's highest rates of violence against women and children. Honduras has the worst homicide rate at 37.6 per 100,000 people. Women in these countries face particularly dangerous conditions—hundreds are killed each year simply because of their gender, and most cases go unpunished. In Guatemala, for example, about 97 percent of violence against women cases result in no conviction. Children are also at extreme risk, with some of the highest child homicide rates globally. The bill notes that thousands of families have fled these countries seeking safety, and many experts believe the actual violence numbers are much higher than reported because victims are afraid to come forward.

The U.S. would work with each country through formal agreements called "compacts" to strengthen their police, courts, and health systems to better protect victims and prosecute offenders. The money would support things like training for law enforcement, establishing safe shelters for abuse survivors, improving schools to prevent violence, and providing medical and counseling services to victims. Importantly, the bill prohibits giving money directly to the central governments—instead, funds would go to nonprofits, international organizations, and other groups actually doing the work on the ground. The bill also includes safeguards: if a country isn't making progress or violates the agreement, the U.S. can suspend funding. Congress must be notified before any agreement is signed, and the State Department must report annually on whether the programs are actually reducing violence and improving convictions.

Central American Women and Children Protection Act of 2021

Torres, Norma J.

Central American Women and Children Protection Act of 2021 This bill temporarily authorizes the Department of State to enter into bilateral compacts with the governments of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to strengthen criminal justice systems, social supports, and other means to protect women and children from domestic and gender-based violence. At least 15 days before entering a compact, the State Department must submit to Congress a copy of the proposed agreement and related materials. Authority to enter a compact terminates on September 30, 2023, and a compact may last no more than six years. To support the objectives outlined in a compact, the State Department may provide assistance to international organizations, civil society, or other private entities for programs and activities to prevent and respond to domestic and gender-based violence in a compact country. The bill bars the provision of assistance to the government of a compact country as direct budgetary support. The State Department may suspend or terminate the assistance if a compact country or entity receiving the assistance engaged in conduct contrary to U.S. national security interests or inconsistent with the objectives of the compact. The State Department must notify Congress at least 15 days before suspending or terminating assistance. The bill also requires the State Department to annually report on progress made under each compact, including its effect on reported violence against women and children and other domestic and gender-based violence indicators.