Guatemala

PROTECT THE LAND, LIVELIHOOD AND CULTURE OF INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES FROM PERMANENT DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE EXPLOITATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES

Project Title : Protect the land, livelihood and culture of indigenous communities from permanent damage caused by the exploitation of natural resources

Location: Santa María Cahabón, Guatemala

Main Objective: To empower the Dominican network in Guatemala in the protection of human rights and the environment against the impacts of destructive resource exploitation and human rights violations

Duration: 18 months

Direct Beneficiaries: 

• Dominican promoters of Justice and Peace in Central America 
• Dominican partners in Guatemala involved in justice and peace
• Franciscan partners in Guatemala 
• Other partner organizations in Guatemala

Indirect Beneficiaries: All indigenous communities affected by the exploitation of natural resources in Guatemala, especially by hydroelectric projects

Main activities:  

1. Online preparatory meetings to brief partners on the upcoming submission to the UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and on advocacy activities around the UPR ;
2. Engagement at the UPR through a civil society coalition. Inputs will be provided on indigenous peoples/human rights defenders, the right to water and the impacts of the exploitation of natural resources on human rights and the environment ;
3. Organization of online meetings with the civil society coalition to monitor the implementation of the UPR recommendations by the Government of Guatemala ;
4. Engagement at the UN Human Rights Council on Guatemala ;
5. Online preparatory meeting to brief partners on the upcoming submission to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Right (CESCR) and on advocacy activities around the review;
6. Engagement in the review of Guatemala by the CESCR through the submission of a joint report on indigenous peoples/human rights defenders, the right to water and the impacts of the exploitation of natural resources on human rights and the environment ;
7. Organization of online meetings with the partners to monitor the implementation of the recommendations made by the CESCR to Guatemala to improve its human rights record ;
8. Training and exposure of a partner to the UN mechanisms in Geneva ;
9. Documentation of good practices and lessons learned.

Expected results:

1. Human rights defenders have the capacity to share their inputs in the various reviews by the UN of Guatemala.
2. The impacts of the hydroelectric power on indigenous rights in Guatemala are actively monitored.
3. The situation in Guatemala obtains visibility at an international level and the Government will be prompted to follow UN
4. The relevant issues regarding indigenous communities affected by hydroelectric projects are raised by Member States, leading to increased scrutiny on Government practice.