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Guatemala

Country profile

Even though Guatemala
is not among the poorest countries in Central America, it is characterized by extreme social and economic inequalities.

DanChurchAid is focusing its efforts in the North Western highlands, home to mainly the indigenous Maya population, which is the poorest and most marginalised group in the country.

Human rights violation and impunity

Guatemala is still marked by its history of more than three decades of armed conflict, ending in 1996. Human rights violations and impunity are still common, and the country suffers from high levels of violence at all levels of society as well as organized crime. The political situation remains fragile.

The main human rights problem of Guatemala today is that more than half the population cannot have their basic social and economic rights fulfilled: income, health, education etc. This is a reality for some six to seven million people while by its natural endowments Guatemala need not be a poor country.

Impunity for the powerful and well-connected remains a serious problem, and most cases of human rights violations occurred during the armed conflict –even to the level of crimes against humanity – have still not been prosecuted or punished. The role and profile of the military is again on the increase.

The basic development barriers of the country being clearly political, the complex issue of democratisation and redistribution of resources is the biggest challenge that Guatemala has to face.

More about Guatemala