Weaving Justice with the 36 Maya Achi Women
Cooperant Update: poem from tribunal tower 42 years into the future: will we have unlearned genocide?
poem from tribunal tower 42 years into the future: will we have unlearned genocide? April 24, 2024 By: Romi Fischer-Schmidt, New Hope Foundation cooperant This is a reflection on the experience of walking with four [...]
2024 BTS Delegation to Guatemala – Day 2 (May 6)
The delegation visits the Rabinal Community Legal Clinic offices. Today was an emotional one in many ways. We heard of the genocidal attacks on the Maya people from three perspectives. One perspective was [...]
2024 BTS Delegation to Guatemala – Day 1 (May 5)
We arrived in Guatemala late last night (May 4) and stayed at the Casa San Benito in Guatemala City. After a breakfast of tortillas, beans, eggs and papaya, we loaded into our mini-bus and drove [...]
Cooperant Update: Getting Started at the New Hope Foundation
I am a cooperant at the New Hope Foundation, Rio Negro, located in Rabinal, Baja Verapaz. By: Romi Fischer-Schmidt, New Hope Foundation cooperant What an honour it is to be welcomed into the [...]
Rabinal Legal Clinic Psychologist Speaks about Day for Dignity of Internal Armed Conflict Victims
Yesterday, Guatemala celebrated the 25th National Day for the Dignity of the Victims of the Internal Armed Conflict. Survivors from across the country marched through Guatemala City to honour the loved ones who were taken [...]
Day 6 & 7 of the Rancho Bejuco Trial: Presentation of witnesses for the defence
The day started with Maya Kaqchikel researcher Aura Cumes' presentation of her expert report on Harassment, Persecution and Displacement in Xesiguan, Rabinal. The report examined the Achi people’s experience of Guatemalan military control during the [...]
Day 5: Rancho Bejuco Trial – Testimonies Speak to Genocidal Violence, Role of Parallel Forces
The court buildings where hearings are taking place. Photo credit: Lenora June 15, 2023 Written by Lenora A Pattern of Genocidal Violence Four witnesses shared recorded testimonies today. While the sound was not [...]
In the Search for Justice,
36 Maya Achi Women from the areas surrounding Rabinal, Baja Verapaz bravely broke the silence concerning crimes of sexual violence they experienced during the Internal Armed Conflict. Supported by the Rabinal Legal Clinic (ABJPR), testimonies for this case were first collected in 2011, after evidence from a case before the Inter American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) revealed possible crimes of sexual violence.
First arrests were made in 2018, however, several ex-civil-patrollers remained fugitives from justice until 2021. In January of 2022, 5 of the original 10 men accused will stand trial in the Criminal Sentencing Court for High-Risk Proceedings “A” presided by judge Yassmin Barrios.
Consult the blog updates to the left for updates on the case.