19 prevent and punish violence against women, particularly the definition of femicide as a specific offence.59 However, the Committee noted with deep concern that the level of violence against women, including murders, remained high.60 Accordingly, it urged the State to redouble its efforts to prevent and combat violence against women, including gender-related murder; ensure the full and effective application of the relevant legislation; and ensure effective coordination between the various bodies that have a role to play in tackling violence against women.61 81. Upon noting the alarming rise in the number of women’s murders, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, following her visit to Guatemala in 2006, said “Expectations have been raised, again and again, but results have rarely followed. Insecurity and inequality prevail, and a history of failed opportunities has created disenchantment in a population eager for change.62“ 82. Amnesty International said that it had received reports of cases where “where police authorities had failed in their duty to take urgent action to prevent injury to women and girls believed to be at immediate risk.”63 In that regard, Amnesty International said that: “the state’s failure to respond appropriately and effectively to emergency calls or reports of missing women engages its responsibility for their subsequent murders. The state must improve the ability of officers to respond to such calls, and those officers who fail to discharge their duties 64 effectively must be held to account. 83. As regards measures adopted by the State to address violence against women, 1996 saw the promulgation of the Law to Prevent, Punish and Eradicate Intrafamilial Violence (Decree 97-96). In 2000 and 2001, this legal framework was enhanced with the adoption of the rules governing application of the law and the creation of the Agency to Coordinate the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Intrafamilial Violence and Violence against Women (CONAPREVI), whose function is to coordinate institutions active in this area.65 The Presidential Secretariat of Women (SEPREM) was created by Government Agreement 200-2000. A National Policy for Guatemalan Women’s Advancement and 59 United Nations, Committee against Torture, Concluding observations on the combined fifth and sixth periodic reports of Guatemala, adopted by the Committee at its fiftieth session (6–31 May 2013). 60 United Nations, Committee against Torture, Concluding observations on the combined fifth and sixth periodic reports of Guatemala, adopted by the Committee at its fiftieth session (6–31 May 2013). 61 United Nations, Committee against Torture, Concluding observations on the combined fifth and sixth periodic reports of Guatemala, adopted by the Committee at its fiftieth session (6–31 May 2013). 62 Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Press statement by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights following her official visit to Guatemala, 27 May 2006. Available at: http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/C7F2A41A172BC438C125717D0056605A?opendocument. 63 Amnesty International, Guatemala, No Protection, No Justice: 34/019/2006, July 18, 2006. Killings of women (an update), AI AMR/ 64 Amnesty International, Guatemala: No protection, no justice: Killings of women (an update), AI AMR/ 34/019/2006, July 18, 2006. 65 IACHR, Justice and Social Inclusion: The Challenges of Democracy in Guatemala, 2003, par. 297. CONAPREVI was created on November 24, 2000,and installed on January 5, 2001. Its current mandate is based on the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence against women – Convention of Belém do Pará, Article 13 of the Law to Prevent, Punish and Eradicate Intrafamily Violence and Article 17 of the Law against Femicide and Other Forms of Violence against Women.