Guatemala Human Rights Commission USA - Comisión de Derechos Humanos EE.UU.

10/09/2026

Guatemala: Violations of Land Rights

Indigenous and campesino communities in Guatemala continue to face forced evictions, threats, and criminalization as they defend their ancestral lands. At least 14 violent evictions have reportedly affected approximately 1,500 families since President Arévalo took office.

Despite commitments under the 2024 Agrarian Agreement and calls from the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing for an urgent moratorium on evictions, communities remain at risk of losing their homes and livelihoods.

Guatemala must take urgent action to protect land rights, prevent forced evictions, and ensure Indigenous and campesino communities can defend their ancestral territories without fear of violence or persecution.

10/08/2026

On September 21, 2026, Guatemala received the first shipment of weaponry from the United States government in decades, following the lifting of restrictions that had limited US military sales to the Guatemalan Army. The equipment, according to the Guatemalan government, will be used to bolster the fight against drug trafficking, organized crime, and arms and human smuggling networks, as well as to strengthen border surveillance. The purchases form part of a broader program of cooperation between the US and Guatemalan militaries.

Foreign Military Sales to Guatemala were restricted in 1977 because of the egregious human rights violations committed by the Guatemalan Army during the internal armed conflict, and the restriction was maintained for decades because of ongoing concerns about human rights violations and about the misuse by the Army of US-provided equipment. These developments have important implications for human rights, accountability, and the protection of communities in Guatemala. As the partnership evolves, transparency and human rights safeguards remain essential to understanding and addressing its impact.

10/07/2026

The killing of community journalist Evelio Lisandro López on October 2 in San Pedro Necta, Huehuetenango, comes amid reported threats against him related to his journalistic work.

Huehuetenango has been identified as a region where human and drug trafficking intersect with local political interests, creating risks for journalists working in the area. The killing also comes amid broader concerns about press freedom in Guatemala, which ranks 128th out of 180 countries in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Journalists continue to report threats, intimidation, and restrictions on their work, underscoring the need for effective protection and accountability for attacks against the press.

09/29/2026

GHRC September Update: US Arms Flow to Guatemala as Evictions Continue

Dear Friends, On September 15, Guatemalan Independence Day, the US State Department congratulated Guatemala on its independence while praising it for its ever closer cooperation with the Trump administration. For the first time in more than four decades, Guatemala has purchased weapons from the United States and, in the words of the State Department, is “building one of our hemisphere’s most extensive migration partnerships.” The Guatemalan government has yet to address conflicts around land that have led so many to migrate....

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Dear Friends, On September 15, Guatemalan Independence Day, the US State Department congratulated Guatemala on its independence while praising it for its ever closer cooperation with the Trump admi…

09/16/2026

A Guatemalan court has dismissed the case against Indigenous authorities Luis Pacheco, Héctor Chaclán, Basilio Puac, and Esteban Toc, who were criminalized following the 2023 mobilizations in defense of democracy and the peaceful transfer of power.

The ruling is an important step for Indigenous rights, self-determination, and the right to peaceful protest. The officials who pursued and supported the criminalization remain in Guatemala’s Public Prosecutor’s Office.

08/15/2026

GHRC at the IACHR: Bringing Guatemalan Voices to the Inter-American System

Dear Friends, We’re hoping the end of the summer finds you well and enjoying yourself. Some news about our activities–last week we participated in two thematic hearings at the 196th Period of Sessions of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) in Washington, DC. One focused on forced exile in Central America and the other on the current situation of Guatemala’s Public Ministry....

Dear Friends,We’re hoping the end of the summer finds you well and enjoying yourself. Some news about our activities–last week we participated in two thematic hearings at the 196th Period of Sessio…

08/12/2026

After 15 months in prison, Indigenous authorities Luis Pacheco and Héctor Chaclán are back home.

The leaders of Guatemala’s 48 Cantons played a key role in defending the country’s democratic transition. Their release is a victory for Indigenous rights, democracy, and justice but the criminal case against them remains open.

08/06/2026

This week, the Guatemala Human Rights Commission together with organizations from across Central America, including , Casa Centroamérica, and , appeared before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to document how forced exile has become an increasingly common form of repression against those who defend human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.

Forced exile is not a choice, it is a consequence of persecution and criminalization. We continue to stand with human rights defenders, journalists, indigenous leaders, and democratic actors who have been forced to leave their homes for defending fundamental freedoms.

08/06/2026