18 March 2024
On 7 March 2024, Impunity Watch co-convened a side event during the 55th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva on the topic of ‘Human Rights in Guatemala: from rescuing democracy to guaranteeing justice’. We brought together Indigenous leaders Luis Pacheco, Maya Kiche leader and ex-president of the Council of Communal Mayors of the 48 cantons of Totonicapán; Lourdes Gomez, Maya Q’eqchi; indigenous women defenders and Bernardo Caal, Maya Q’eqchi, indigenous environmental and land defender.
The UN special rapporteur Clément Nyaletsossi Voule, the Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association, and Margaret Satterthwaite, the Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, also participated.
Margaret Satterthwaite shared a video message ahead of the event. She expressed her concern about how the justice system in Guatemala has been used to persecute, threaten, and silence efforts to hold authorities accountable–rather than being a tool to protect human rights. She will monitor the appointment of courts this year and invited the international community to do the same to guarantee a transparent election. Finally, she recognised the role of indigenous leaders in the peaceful transition and how they are also being criminalised for their actions. Watch it below:
During the event, Luis Pacheco stressed that one of the mandates of indigenous authorities is to ensure the common good, and this includes democracy. During the election process last year, as observers, they saw how the results were not being respected and those in power were trying to impose a different government.
“We defended democracy, in a peaceful way, without war or confrontation, in the end it became a celebration in defence of democracy”. –Luis Pacheco
Pacheco also said that this was just the first step, and that we now have the opportunity to make profound changes. He highlighted the importance of the support of the international community and that it needs to continue, particularly this year as there will be a change of courts in the justice system.
During the peaceful protests in Guatemala last year, Special Rapporteur Clement Nyaletsossi supported the achievements of indigenous communities and civil society in their attempts to defend democracy. He also reminded the new government that they must guarantee this right to all sectors of the population.
“This was an example for the whole world on why it is important to guarantee the right to freedom of assembly, because it can have impacts to create profound change in democracy”. –Special Rapporteur Clement Nyaletsossi
Lourdes Gomez presented on the increasing land evictions of indigenous communities due to the expansion of production of palm. Past governments have accelerated land evictions and demobilisations where human rights violations occur, including sexual violence. There has also been an increase in the persecution against those that defend their territories.
Bernardo Caal said he was criminalised and persecuted for denouncing the detour of a river by a hydroelectric company in his community. Both Lourdes and Bernardo highlighted the narrative of accusing indigenous people being opposed to development to criminalise their actions, and how in the past, governments have protected the companies and not indigenous communities.
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This event was co-organised by Impunity Watch, PBI, Centre for Civil and Political Rights, Franciscans Internationals, International Service for Human Rights and Protection International.
Find out more about our work in Guatemala