Women's rights activists have applauded the approval of a new law on violence against women, meant to stop the killing and abuse of women and better prosecute the perpetrators. The much discussed “Law Against Feminicide and Other Forms of Violence Against Women” was approved in Congress on April 9 under loud applause from the public tribune, where representatives of political parties and women organizations had been awaiting the approval of the law. For activists, the law is an important step in the defense of women's rights in Guatemala, where thousands of women have been abused, raped or killed during the past years but most often the perpetrators are not prosecuted. Women's rights activists hope that the new legislation will strengthen the work of public prosecutors, human rights organizations and the police.

El Salvador's ruling party, the National Republican Alliance (ARENA), recently nominated Roberto Ávila as their 2009 presidential candidate, despite cries of fraud from high-ranking party members. Now, however, its politicians are closing ranks in support of Ávila in an all-out bid to defeat Mauricio Funes, the popular candidate from the Farabundo Martí Front of National Liberation (FMLN) opposition party. Meanwhile, other conservative groups have been strengthening their ties with ARENA. Two of these parties, the Party of National Conciliation (PCN) and the Democratic Christian Party (PDC) are considering a coalition with ARENA to solidify the anti-Funes vote. These smaller parties have now tapped a third candidate, Wilfred Salgado, to represent them in the event that negotiations with ARENA fail.

By Marta Nocete

Translated by Dan Gordon

The presidents of Brazil and Guatemala signed a treaty last weekend that pledged their mutual commitment to an array of health, education, security, and energy initiatives. A major part of the agreements had to do with a shared commitment to biofuels, an industry to which both leaders are eager to direct their country's agricultural products. The meeting comes at the same time as a series of similar discussions between the United States and other Central American countries eager to invest in the emerging biofuel market.

Congress approved this year's budget last week, with an eye to satisfying the International Monetary Fund, which it signed an agreement with only days later. The government will limit the fiscal deficit, and slash subsidies to energy. Although this has been controversial, civil society groups have focused their criticism on the government's massive Poverty Reduction Strategy, the funds of which are allegedly being misspent. Meanwhile, one organization accuses the government of having purposely delayed the budget vote so as to misappropriate the funds from the first three months of three year.

Central America has been hit hard by the effects of the US recession. As the price of basic consumer goods skyrockets, the poor are finding it increasingly difficult to meet their basic needs. In an attempt to soften the blow, President Martin Torrijos recently announced a series of subsidies to reduce the high cost of a number of dietary staples. The government has also pledged to cut taxes and increase the preferential interests of mortgage loans. However, economists have warned that these measures will do little in terms of curbing inflation and that there is not much the government can do except weather the storm.