On September 28, Cultural Survival and Sobrevivencia Cultural, (our sister organization in Guatemala), submitted a petition to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), to appeal the decision of Guatemala's Constitutional Court which violates Indigenous Peoples' rights through the country's telecommunications law that excludes Indigenous Peoples from operating community radio stations.
A new bill proposed by the right-wing political party in Guatemala would criminalize the use of the radio spectrum for any actors not authorized to do so. The bill aims to take community radio stations that are fighting for legal recognition off the air.
As a result of a more than a week of protests in Guatemala, the leaders of 11 different political parties in Congress signed resolution committing to "dialogue on concrete legislative actions" on pending legislation, including bills regarding 1) Rural Development, 2) Agriculture, 3) Community Media, 4) Indigenous Rights, 5) Sacred Sites, 6) Indigenous Community Lands
By Cesar Gomez (Maya Pocomam, CS Staff)
Freedom of expression is an inherent right for everyone, free from censorship or prior authorization—principles enshrined in both international and Inter-American human rights systems. However, for the Indigenous Peoples in Guatemala, this right has historically been subject to constant violation, alongside the denial of other fundamental rights.
Guatemala City, August 5, 2026. Luis Pacheco and Héctor Chaclán (both of Maya K'iche' origin), former president and former treasurer of the 48 Cantones of Totonicapán, regained their freedom this Wednesday after being held since April 25, 2025 in the Mariscal Zavala prison. A judge granted them alternative measures to pretrial detention, allowing them to face the rest of the criminal proceedings outside of prison.
By Kerstin Sabene
On July 2, 2026, I boarded a lancha, a small public boat from Panajachel to the Maya Tz'utujil village of Santiago on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala, which has been the site of heightened tensions since the beginning of the year.
By Carlos Escalante Villagrán (Maya K’iche’), Judiel López Cabrera (Maya Mam) and Anna Aziza Grewe
By Cesar Gomez (Maya Pocomam, CS Staff)