We condemn the murders of two women human rights defenders in Guatemala

The Platform of Land and Territory Defenders against Extractivism and the International Land Coalition LAC condemn the murders of the young defenders Nicolasa López and Victoria Mendez, members of the Comité de Desarollo Campesino (CODECA), perpetrated on May 6 in Jalapa, Guatemala.

Since 2018, 27 CODECA defenders have been killed for their leadership roles in the defence of their land and the environment.

We express our condolences and deep solidarity with CODECA and the families of the victims. Their deaths demonstrate the worrying level of violence and intimidation faced by human rights defenders in Guatemala in the context of the ongoing agrarian conflict in the country.

We call on the Guatemalan authorities to carry out a transparent and expeditious investigation into the events that took place and to identify and punish those responsible.

We urge the State of Guatemala to guarantee the protection of human rights defenders in accordance with international standards.

#NoMoreDeaths