Government presents its Public Policy on Human Rights Defenders

On November 13, the Public Policy on Human Rights Defenders was presented in the Peace Courtyard of the National Palace of Culture. At the ceremony, Guatemalan government authorities unveiled this protection tool, which includes mechanisms to prevent risks and threats, as well as a protection system and investigative protocols for when a human rights defender’s life and safety are under threat.

The struggle and resistance of the Tz’utujil people in Santiago Atitlán

On October 24, the people of Santiago Atitlán succeeded in removing Mayor Francisco Coché from office on charges of corruption. They also succeeded in having the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) recognize First Councilman Andrés Ajuchán as the new mayor.1

Criminalization and prosecution of justice operators

Guatemala is one of the most dangerous countries for justice operators.

Eight years after the events, a verdict in the Hogar “Seguro” case

Learn more about the water shortage caused by monoculture plantations on the South Coast in the article >The struggle for the right to water on the South Coast: “Water is life, not a commodity”< in our Bulletin No. 53.

UN Special Rapporteur calls for urgent moratorium on evictions and amnesty for prisoners

We have just scheduled the dates for the next selection process:

•     Opening of the selection process: August 8, 2025.
•     Deadline to receive applications: October 5, 2025.
•     The training and selection week will take place from February 22 to 28, 2025 in Spain.

Find more information here.

We share with you our Bulletin No. 53, which contains the following articles: 40th anniversary of GAM, an inspiration in the struggle for human rights in Guatemala - The struggle for the right to water on the southern coast: “Water is life, not a commodity” - News of our work: New historic sentence in the Maya Achí women’s case: perpetrators convicted of crimes against humanity in the form of sexual violence.

The beginning of the trial in the criminalization process against members of the Ch’orti’ Maya Indigenous Council of Olopa Chiquimula was suspended and re-scheduled for August 22.

We present our Annual Report 2024, which summarizes our activities over the past year. We draw special attention to our accompaniment of campesino and indigenous organizations in Alta Verapaz, made up of communities that live under constant threat of eviction, as well as the Maya Ch’orti’ Indigenous Council of Olopa that defends their rights, and those of the territory they inhabit, against mining activities that have never been consulted.