Women for Peace and Democracy in Guatemala

The aim was to understand and deepen our knowledge of their struggles, needs, and proposed solutions in the face of the challenges they encounter, within the context of a new democratic government that offers a hopeful future for the Guatemalan nation. 

One of the most valuable lessons I gained from the delegation was the resilience and resistance mechanisms developed by these groups in response to systematic violations of their rights throughout history. Their determination, courage, and strength make them true role models.   

These are but a few examples:

1. Virginia Laparra and her fight against a corrupt justice system 

Virginia Laparra, who held the position of prosecutor at the Special Prosecutor’s Office Against Impunity (FECI) in Quetzaltenango, was determined to fight a corrupt system, but ultimately fell victim to it herself. In 2022 she was sentenced to four years in prison for "abuse of authority." On top of that, in 2024 she was charged with disclosing confidential information, accompanied by a ban on practicing law for five years and on working as a public official for ten years. She is not the only one. Her detention is part of ongoing legal proceedings against several former prosecutors and judges who investigated corruption cases. Laparra's case highlights the tensions and challenges faced by justice officials and human rights defenders in environments where corruption and impunity prevail, and underscores the importance of protecting those who fight for justice and an independent judicial system. 

2. The Tz'unun'Ya community and the defense of Lake Atitlán 

Lake Atitlán is a stunning lake, one of the deepest ones in South America, surrounded by volcanoes and indigenous villages. It is also highly polluted. The Tz'unun'Ya community, one of many which live around the lake, have campaigned and advocated and fought for the lake. One striking example of their activism was a peaceful march in which they threw the plastic waste collected from Lake Atitlán in front of the Committee Coordinator of Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial, and Financial Associations (CACIF). This action, also known as the “procession of the trash,” aimed to highlight the struggle of residents from the areas surrounding Lake Atitlán against the high level of pollution caused by companies, which severely affects the environment, health, and lives of people in the region. Community activists also told us about the reprisals and targeting they face from corrupt authorities for their defence of the lake.

3. The Altar of the Girls 

The Altar of the Girls was created as a tribute to 41 girls who died in a fire at the state-run Virgen de la Asunción home. It also serves as a symbol of resistance against institutional neglect and the State's failure to acknowledge responsibility. Despite repeated destructions of the altar, women’s collectives and feminist groups have come together to rebuild it whenever necessary, in order to keep the memory of the girls alive and remind the State of its outstanding debt to the victims, their families, and Guatemalan children in general. 

4. National Weavers Movement 

The resistance against cultural appropriation and the need to recognize collective indigenous intellectual property to protect indigenous textiles, clothing, and designs has been one of the main pillars of the National Weavers Movement's struggle. Their desire to reclaim their dignity, ancestral knowledge, and defend their cultural identity has led these communities to question and challenge the concept of “development” imposed upon them, which is largely associated with discrimination, consumerism, and violence against humans, especially indigenous women.

These examples of resilience and resistance demonstrate that, even in the most adverse contexts, the strength and determination of communities can pave the way to a more just, peaceful, and equitable future. Furthermore, they remind us that words without action lack importance, urging us to translate our commitment into real actions.

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Article written by Adela Moncada Sueiras, a Honduran lawyer, feminist, human rights enthusiast, actual justice operator, participant in NWI's 2023 Sister-to-Sister cohort.    

Photos by Camila Urrutia from NWI Delegation to Guatemala