DanChurchAid
Guatemala
Partners: Political space
Fundación Myrna Mack (FMM)
Fundación Myrna Mack is a human rights organisation named after the anthropologist Myrna Mack. She was assassinated by the Guatemalan military in 1990 after having documented the crimes committed towards the indigenous Maya population during the civil war. Since 1993, the Myrna Mack Foundation has played a key role in the fight against impunity and the promotion of access to justice as well as citizen participation in the democratisation of the system of justice in Guatemala. The organisation plays an active role in different political advocacy spaces for changes in the system of justice and has become a reference for international organisations such as the UN system. The Foundation is conducting research and elaborating proposals on subjects related to justice and security and provides training and capacity building in human rights and legal matters. Visit website: www.myrnamack.org.gt
Programa de Pastoral Social de la Diócesis de Huehuetenango (PPSDH)
The Catholic Church’s Social Pastoral Programme of the Diocese of Huehuetenango (PPSDH) is carrying out advocacy work in order to facilitate the access to justice for poor and marginalised groups, especially the indigenous Maya population. Huehuetenango is one of the poorest departments in Guatemala with a mainly indigenous population. The department was heavily involved in the armed conflict, and mistrust, violence and a lack of access to justice are among the most severe problems. PPSDH is working for the enforcement and respect of human rights through education activities and by providing legal services. DanChurchAid has supported the programme since 1996.
Centro de Acción Legal para los Derechos Humanos (CALDH)
CALDH is a human rights organisation working for reconciliation and the application of justice in war crimes and other human rights violations which occurred during the period of the internal armed conflict in Guatemala. CALDH seeks to avoid that these crimes are forgotten and is fighting against the perpetuation of the inequality before the law, the racism towards the indigenous population and the impunity for the human rights violations. The organisation is collecting evidence against former dictators and carrying out advocacy and information activities. DanChurchAid has supported CALDH since 2001. Visit website: www.caldh.org
Seguridad en Democracia (SEDEM)
Security in Democracy (SEDEM) is an NGO working to promote democratic security in Guatemala through strengthening civil society structures to monitor civil and military security services in the departments of Huehuetenango, Quetzaltenango and San Marcos. SEDEM is conducting training activities on democratic security and is working with dissemination of information, awareness raising and advocacy for transparency, accountability and responsibility. The NGO is aiming at securing that the state policy is in accordance with human rights and international norms on security and justice. Visit website: www.sedem-gua.org
Coordinación Nacional de Viudas en Guatemala (CONAVIGUA)
CONAVIGUA was established in 1988 by Maya Indian widows whose husbands, sons and fathers were killed and buried in clandestine graves by the military during the internal armed conflict. CONAVIGUA is working with the exhumation of these mass graves in order to document the human rights violations committed and bring them to court. The organisation is promoting the protection of indigenous people’s rights through information and advocacy activities in the Western region of Guatemala, training indigenous women and youth in human rights, working for their increased access to decision making processes and seeking to reduce racism and discrimination of this group. Visit website: www.conavigua.org.gt
Casa del Migrante
The human rights and migrants' house in the border town of Tecún Umán (San Marcos) is a centre for thousands of illegal migrants. The migrant house is run by the Catholic Church which works to promote and protect the rights of migrants, day labourers and prostitutes through information and training. They provide shelter, food and guidance to the migrants who fail in their intent to escape poverty.
Asociación Casa Alianza de Guatemala (ACAG)
ACAG supports the legal work of the children rights organisation Casa Alianza in Guatemala. Casa Alianza helps street children getting away from the streets and works politically to strengthen the rights of children and youth.
