Opening reception:
Friday, March 15 at 5:30pm
Renaissance College, 811 Charlotte St.

With refreshments, poetry by Melissa Beaulieu and remarks by Gail Paul with the Indigenous Women’s Association of the Maliseet & Mi’kmaq Territory.

Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/2176502845937917/

The exhibit will be at Renaissance College from March 15 to March 21 then it will move to St. Thomas University and downtown Fredericton. Stay tuned for details. 

This art exhibit features prints of original portraits in different media, contributed by different artists globally. Each portrait is dedicated to one of the 41 victims who died on March 8, 2017 in a fire at the state-run centre for children and youth Hogar Seguro Virgen de la Asunción in Guatemala. In addition, 15 survivors were also left severely injured. Almost two years later, there is still no justice for this state crime.

As we approach the two year anniversary of this tragedy, we invite you to join us in commemorating and demanding justice for the lives of the 41 victims and 15 survivors of this incident! For more info and solidarity actions you can take, visit us here: https://bit.ly/2FQo6ul

This art project was first launched online on May 15, 2017 by the alternative media organizations Prensa Comunitaria in Guatemala and Desinformémonos in Mexico. They were joined in this initiative by 60 digital media agencies, as well as 40 organizations and collectives globally.

#NosDuelen56 #HogarSeguro

What Happened on March 8 2017?

The tragedy unfolded in the early hours of March 8, 2017. Police had locked a group of girls and young women in a small room measuring 6.8 metres by 7 metres after they attempted to escape the home. Despite their cries for help, the police would not let them out after a fire broke out inside the room. As a result, 41 girls and young women died, while 15 others were severely injured.

Following this horrific incident, the failure of state institutions to act on prior reports of abuse and poor conditions at the Hogar Seguro have been brought to light. The decision of high-level officials, as well as President Jimmy Morales, to deploy 100 police to the Hogar Seguro after they had tried to escape has been heavily criticized by Guatemalan civil society organizations. Currently, eight high-level government officials, the ex-director of the Hogar Seguro and police officials face charges in connection with this crime; however, no one has been convicted to date.

Organized by Maritimes-Guatemala Breaking the Silence Network, Canada Research Chair in Global and International Studies, the International Development Studies Student Association, University Women's Centre, No One Is Illegal Fredericton, STU Human Rights Society, STU International Students' Association and Registro Creativo.

Contact: btsmaritimescoordinator@gmail.com.