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Guatemala City, Guatemala, September 20, 2021, 12:00 EST – The International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC) donated interview room technology equipment to the Guatemalan Juvenile Court. This donation will enable Guatemala City courthouse judges to record interviews with children who are suspected to be victims of abuse or exploitation.
In June of 2021, ICMEC began working with partners in Guatemala to conduct a Multisectoral Response and Capacity (MRC) assessment of Guatemala’s child protection capacity. As part of its evaluation, the organization realized an immediate need for safe, equipped spaces for criminal justice professionals to interview child victims.
Until present, the courthouse has had six interview rooms, one for each judge. However, the technology in them was either antiquated or not functional. Seeing the need for equipped interview rooms, ICMEC is committed to supplying, free of charge, computers and technology to refurbish the six interview rooms.
“It is absolutely critical that courts have interview rooms that are designed to help children feel comfortable and are also equipped with the technology needed to facilitate the investigation” shares Pilar Ramirez, ICMEC Vice President of National Capacity Building
The equipment, purchased and donated by ICMEC, consists of six computers and computer equipment, including webcams, monitors, and video conferencing systems, cameras and microphones. ICMEC also contributed six lifecam cinema camera systems for recording interviews.
The equipment, which was installed in the courthouse on September 17th, has been donated in conjunction with our partners, SASIP and Inresa. Once running, ICMEC will coordinate with local magistrates to train local law enforcement, courthouse staff, and judges on equipment use.
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About the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children
The International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC) is a non-governmental, non-profit organization working to make the world a safer place for all children by defending against child sexual exploitation, abuse, and the risk of going missing. Headquartered in the United States, ICMEC works with partners around the world to develop research, technologies, and educational resources to aid in the search and recovery of children who are missing, fight online exploitation online, and empower caring professionals, institutions, and communities to safeguard children from all forms of sexual abuse.
For more information go to www.icmec.org.
Media contact:
Jeff Swingle
ICMEC Senior Vice President of Strategic Advancement
jswingle@icmec.org