Palacio de Justicia, Guatemala: Trial against 5 former civil patrollers taking place on Level 15 of the Tribunal Towers. The oral and public debate stage in the trial against the 5 former members of the Civil Defense Patrol (PAC) accused … Continue reading
Blog Archives
2021 in Guatemala Marked by 846 Attacks Against Human Rights Defenders
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The Unit for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders in Guatemala (UDEFEGUA) reported 846 aggressions against human rights defenders this year. Of the aggressions cited, 153 were committed against environmental defenders and 210 against judicial sector workers, including judges and … Continue reading
Ministry of Energy and Mines Rams through Sham Consultation on Fenix Mine
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On the morning of December 13, the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) announced in a press conference that the consultation process on the Fenix Mine was officially completed. As mandated by a Constitutional Court (CC) ruling in response to … Continue reading
December 10 Human Rights Update
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54 Dead After Mexican Bus Carrying Central American Migrants Crashes A trailer crammed with over 100 migrants overturned in Chiapas on December 9, leaving 54 dead. According to Luis Manuel García Moreno–Chiapas Civil Protection Secretary–the weight of the trailer compounded … Continue reading
December 3 Human Rights Update
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Public Ministry Presses Charges Against Defender Beaten by Police Over the last week, three activists have been criminalized for charges related to their involvement in a peaceful demonstration that took place on November 21, 2020. The popular demonstration, attended by … Continue reading
October 29 Human Rights Update
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Congress Approves State of Siege in El Estor After Police Repress Protesters Thousands of police and the military used tear gas and beatings to violently repress the Indigenous Q’eqchi’ resistance to the illegal Fenix nickel mine in El Estor, Izabal … Continue reading
Members of Congress Push State Department for Stronger Action on Guatemala
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The situation for judicial officials and human rights defenders in Guatemala continues to worsen. An update on the congressional Dear Colleague letter can be found below. The letter is out! Thank you for your help! In a letter released October … Continue reading
Supreme Court Targets Pablo Xitumul in Latest Move to Criminalize Independent Judges
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On October 6, the Supreme Court of Justice ruled to move forward with preliminary proceedings against Judge Pablo Xitumul of High Risk Court D regarding a traffic violation charge. In 2019, a police officer stopped Xitumul in front of his … Continue reading
Failure to Comply: The Families of Laguna Larga Demand State Action
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In an October 1 press conference lawyers with the Human Rights Law Firm, representatives of the Campesino Committee of the Highlands (CCDA), and Aldo Léon, of Voces Mesoamericanas, reported on a visit conducted this week to the displaced community of … Continue reading
September 24 Human Rights Update
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Land Defender in Jalapa CODECA Leadership Role Shot and Killed Ramon Jiménez Lopéz–human rights and land defender–was killed on September 20 in the community of Volcan La Paz, Santa María Xalapán, Jalapa. After Jiménez failed to return home from work, … Continue reading
Guatemala Human Rights Commission 