40 years of searching for Luz Leticia
"The truth must come out so that history does not repeat itself." 1
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Within the framework of this thematic approach, PBI prioritizes accompaniment to the following social processes: recovery of historical memory, the search for justice, reparation and dignification of the victims of the internal armed conflict and the fight against all forms of repression suffered by human rights defenders.
Despite the great achievements of transnational justice in recent years (Genocide Ixil case, Sepur Zarco case, Molina Theissen case etc.), there is still a long way to go to achieve justice, dignity and reparation as well as guarantees of non-repetition for crimes during the internal armed conflict (1960-1996).
In this context we accompany the Human Rights Law Firm (BDH) and the Chicoyogüito Neighborhood Association of Alta Verapaz (AVECHAV).
FAMDEGUA
Location
The Association of Relatives of the Detained and Disappeared of Guatemala (FAMDEGUA), attends cases across different areas of the country where families are looking for their loved ones.
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Stolen Childhood: "We are the seeds that the State tried to kill, but now we bloom in the morning light."
For some years now, walking through the streets of the historic center of Guatemala City, we are astonished by the hundreds of photographs that paper some of its walls. They are the faces of people who disappeared during Guatemala’s Internal Armed Conflict (IAC), lasting over three decades, and ending with the signing of the Peace Accords in December 1996.
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Nunca Pares (Never Stop)
Location
Guatemala City, Guatemala.
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The coronavirus has not stopped the fight against corruption for the residents of Patzicía
The coronavirus pandemic in Guatemala has resulted in addition to the evident impact on an already precarious health system, the mobilization of vast economic resources by the State at different levels. This is partly due to new loans obtained by the government. Such aid is becoming increasingly necessary for large sectors of the population who are facing serious economic difficulties as a result of the pandemic and the measures taken by the Government in response to it.
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Association of Neighbors Against Corruption in Patzicía (AVCCP)
Location
Patzicía, department of Chimaltenango.
Area of work and rights defended
The Association of Neighbors Against Corruption in Patzicía (AVCCP) is an organization that works to combat institutional corruption in the Patzicía region.
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Organizations express concern for the Historical Archive of the National Police
During the last week of May, the worrying situation at the Historical Archive of the National Police (AHPN) came to the fore once more. In the month of July of 2018, Gustavo Meoño, director of the archive since 2005 was dismissed without notice or explanations. Since the beginning of 2019, staff have been gradually, but continually, dismissed. Today only 35 people are left working at the Archive, when at its peak the Archive had a team of 200 workers.
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Struggle against impunity
During the first half of 2023, Guatemalan courts continued to hear important cases of crimes perpetrated during the Internal Armed Conflict (CAI): Genocide Ixil case, under which crimes against humanity and genocide against the Ixil population during the government of Romeo Lucas García are being tried; Diario Militar case, which investigates crimes against humanity, kidnapping, forced disappearance, torture and execution of at least 183 people between 1983 and 1985, during the government of General Óscar Humberto Mejía Víctores; the Luz Leticia Hernández Agustín and Ana María López Rodrígu
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Chicoyogüito Neighborhood Association of Alta Verapaz AVECHAV
Every July 28, the neighbors of the Chicoyogüito community conmemorate the violent eviction they were victims of in 1968; and demonstrate to reclaim their land. Learn about their struggle:
Location
Cobán, Departament of Alta Verapaz
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Human Rights Law Firm BDH
Location
Legal cases in different areas of the country.
Area of work and rights defended
The struggle for justice and against impunity. Edgar Pérez and the BDH - founded by him in 2010 - provide pro-bono legal representation to victim organizations in judicial proceedings for human rights violations committed during the internal armed conflict and other human rights violations that past and present.
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