Peten

The Department of Petén makes up a third of the Republic of Guatemala. More than 60% of the department are protected areas. Although we do not accompany in this department, every six months PBI Guatemala undertakes a visit as a way of following up on the human rights situation. PBI Guatemala holds meetings with different social actors, to advocate around various problematic issues:

-Protected Areas; evictions, agrarian conflicts illegal detentions, restricted freedom of movement

-Militarization

-Women rights

The Peaceful Resistance of La Puya

From the beginning, the Peaceful Resistance of the Puya has been confronted with threats and aggressions, such as the attempted murder against one of its members, Yolanda Oquelí in June 2012. Several of its members have been subject to defamation and legally unfounded accusations, related to their involvement with the Resistance.

The Cunén Communities Council (CCC)

Cunén Community Council (CCC) is a community organization for the defence of the land, natural resources and human rights. CCC was formed in 2009 and consists of 22 members from 8 micro-regions, all from the department of Quiché in Guatemala. 

The K'iche Peoples Council (CPK)

The K'iche Peoples Council (CPK) was formed in 2008 and focuses on "the defense of life, Mother Nature, Land and Territory". In this context, it defends and promotes the collective rights of indigenous peoples, the right to life, rights to water, land and, in general, the economic, social, cultural and environmental rights (ESCR).

Ch’orti Campesino Central “Nuevo Día” (CCCND)

Ch’orti Campesino Central “Nuevo Día” (CCCND) work in Chiquimula department providing support and legal representation to local communities campaigning on issues related to land, environmental, and cultural rights. As a result of their work Nuevo Día members have been subject to death threats, harassment, and criminalisation.

CEHPRODEC

The Honduran Centre for the Protection of Community Development (El Centro Hondureño para la Promoción de Desarrollo Comunitario)

The Honduran Centre for the Protection of Community Development was founded in 1991. Its primary focus is the right to food linked to the defence of economic, social and cultural rights. They provide legal and technical assistance to indigenous and small- scale farmer organisations that are defending their territory against extractive industries and hydroelectric schemes.

Colombian Human Rights Defenders Padre Alberto and Jani Silva visit the UK

In April 2016 Padre Alberto Franco and Jani Silva, Colombian human rights defenders, visited London as part of a Europe wide speaker tour organised by PBI.

Father Alberto Franco is the executive secretary of the human rights NGO Inter-Church Justice and Peace Commission (CIJP). The work of the CIJP focuses on the field accompaniment Afro-Colombian, indigenous and peasant farmer communities.

In their own words

PBI helps to protect over 1000 human rights defenders - people working nonviolently to promote and protect the human rights of others. They work on a broad spectrum of social, economic, cultural, civil and political rights. Here some of them speak about their work, their experiences, and the challenges they face.

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