Location
Lesbia Artola and Imelda Teyul work to defend the rights of indigenous and peasant communities in Alta and Baja Verapaz.
Area of work and rights defended
Lesbia Artola and Imelda Teyul are Mayan Q’eqchi’ women who defends human rights, land, and territory. They are part of the X’Rabin A’j R’al Choo’ch Women’s Association. They accompany indigenous and peasant communities facing eviction or threats of eviction by landowners and extractive companies. They also accompany members of these communities who face criminalization for their work in defense of land and territory. These criminalization processes have a profound impact on those who endure them, resulting in severe economic, social, family, and community impacts.
Lesbia and Imelda provide particular support to indigenous and peasant women who face multiple forms of discrimination and violence because they are human rights defenders, women, indigenous, impoverished, and from rural areas.
Description of the problem
Lesbia Artola and Imelda Teyul themselves are being criminalized and prosecuted for their work in defense of human rights, and are facing multiple legal charges. They also receive constant threats, both in person and on social media, notably from members of the Association for the Defense of Private Property (ACDEPRO) and its allies, who have made a number of defamatory statements about them. Because of all this, PBI has accompanied them since 2018.