This news report seeks to summarize and contextualize PBI’s important work of providing protective accompaniment to human rights defenders in Guatemala. PBI’s team of protection volunteers in Guatemala is currently comprised of five individuals from nationalities across the continents:
- Nelly Horvath (Hungary),
- Ericka Stephania López Mota (Mexico),
- María Moreno Hurtado (Spain),
- María Josefina Díaz Zunino (Argentina), and
- Joseph Duto (France)
For more quantitative information regarding the ongoing political situation for human rights defenders, see our prior April article regarding the UDEFEGUA (Protection Unity for Human Rights Defenders in Guatemala) 2025 annual report.
A key part of PBI Guatemala’s accompaniment has focused on territorial defense to protect individuals receiving threats for ongoing human rights promotion. Specifically, we have accompanied the Maya Ch’orti’ Indigenous Council of Olopa and local ancestral authorities in their first meeting with the mayor of San Juan Ermita- a municipality of Chiquimula. The ancestral authorities of San Juan Ermita and Maya Ch’orti’ Indigenous Council of Olopa’s goals remain securing the rights guaranteed by the 1989 Convention 169 of the International Labour Organization: right to free, prior, and informed consultation of land issues.
On April 27, 2026, we observed a hearing regarding the May 1, 1980, forced disappearances of Conrado de la Cruz, a priest, and Herlindo Cifuentes, a catechist (a teacher of Christian principles). This hearing was meant to begin the intermediate phase, or review of charges and evidence admittance, in the pursuit of justice against two National Police defendants. However, the hearing was postponed to June 16, 2026, due to the court’s inability to proceed. This case highlights how issues navigating the compromised judicial system remained unresolved almost 3 decades after the landmark 1999 Historical Clarification Report (CEH) and 1998 Project for the Recovery of Historical Memory (REMHI Report). The population’s struggle for transitional justice and truth-seeking continues as the nation perseveres amid the legacy of their 36-year civil war and Indigenous genocide.
Furthermore, our volunteers traveled to El Estor in Izabal to visit community journalist Carlos Choc, whose work focuses on amplifying the voices of the Maya Q’eqchi’ people. His journalism continues perennial battles for racial equity in the face of continued human rights violations, as well as documenting the environmental consequences of industry. As part of our engagement with the Guatemalan authorities, this April we met with the National Civil Police in El Estor.
Aside from individual accompaniment, PBI Guatemala held a security and protection workshop focused on transitional justice, reparations, and reclaiming historical memory. Led by Guatemalan experts, this workshop united 17 different organizations in common efforts of reconciliation and historical memory recovery.
To make known our objectives, report concerns, and form diplomatic relationships outside of the state, PBI Guatemala’s European Representative met with the European Union (EU) Ambassador to Guatemala, Johanna Karanko, and a leading political officer at the EU Delegation to Guatemala, Jennifer Echeverría. Within Guatemala, we have engaged with the German Embassy’s Head of Cooperation- when necessary and in a reserved manner- to ensure local experiences remain at the forefront of our advocacy.
Adhering to our mission to deter violence, April 20-24th marked our biannual assembly where we evaluated our work’s challenges and progress over the past six months while planning activities for the following six. These assemblies remain an important part of our work- uniting office staff, project committees, and volunteer teams on the ground.