28 February 2024
On 25 February, the National Day of Dignity of the Victims of the Armed Conflict was commemorated in Guatemala. It was also the 25th anniversary of the presentation of the Commission for Historical Clarification (CEH) Report, which demonstrated the magnitude of the tragedy of the armed conflict and the atrocities committed by the army and other security forces of the State against indigenous people and other social groups.
Like every year, hundreds of victims and survivors from all over the country came together to hold a march to honour the memory of their loved ones that disappeared and died during the armed conflict. This year the commemoration was complemented by an official government event at the National Palace, which included the Change of the Rose of Peace. This change of rose is an event that is carried out by renowned persons or groups that have contributed to peace culture and the peace agreements. On this occasion, Elvia Sep, a victim of the armed conflict and leader of the National Platform of Victims was responsible for the changing of the rose. In her speech, Elvia Sep said that victims continue to wait for a response from the government to their demands and gave a copy of the CEH report to Vice President Karin Herrera “so that the recommendations of the commission are implemented, and the events of the past are not forgotten”.
Vice president Karin Herrera showed solidarity to the families of the victims and announced the creation of a National Dignification Plan for victims, that will be under the responsibility of the Presidential Commission for Peace and Human Rights (COPADEH).
The government-organised event was significant for the National Platform of Victims, because since 2016 the victims and survivors had not been considered in the official commemoration of such an important date for historical memory for the country.
Impunity Watch’s team in Guatemala participated in all the events and reaffirmed its commitment to continue working in favour of the rights of victims to truth, justice, and transformative reparations.
Learn more: Our work in Guatemala