Guatemala: Indigenous Peoples and Land

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office written question – answered at on 25 October 2023.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Fabian Hamilton Fabian Hamilton Labour, Leeds North East

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the report by Independent Delegation of International Lawyers to Guatemala, entitled We are not trespassers: this is our land: Agrarian conflict and Indigenous peoples’ rights in Alta Verapaz, published on 19 October 2023, whether his Department is taking steps to help protect (a) indigenous communities and (b) land rights in Guatemala.

Photo of Fabian Hamilton Fabian Hamilton Labour, Leeds North East

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his counterpart in Guatemala on ensuring the (a) free, (b) prior and (c) informed consent of Indigenous communities affected by (i) energy, (ii) extractive and (iii) other projects.

Photo of David Rutley David Rutley Assistant Whip (HM Treasury), Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

When I [Minister Rutley] visited Guatemala in April, I spoke with representatives from civil society groups about the need to protect space for environmental and human rights defenders including from indigenous communities. These concerns are regularly reflected in bilateral discussions we have with the Guatemalan Government and in international fora, including in the UK's response to the 42nd Universal Periodic Review of Human Rights in Guatemala. We also regularly raise the issue of human rights defenders and land defenders in Guatemala via our Embassy in Guatemala City, working in conjunction with other international partners, with the aim of promoting full respect for human rights for all Guatemalans. FCDO Officials attended a roundtable with the Independent Delegation of International Lawyers to Guatemala on 18 October, in order to discuss the findings of their report and consider their recommendations.

Does this answer the above question?

Yes0 people think so

No0 people think not

Would you like to ask a question like this yourself? Use our Freedom of Information site.