NISGUA builds mutually beneficial grassroots ties between the people of the U.S. and Guatemala and advocates for grassroots alternatives to challenge elite power structures and oppressive U.S. economic and foreign policy.
Guatemala Accompaniment Project
Defense of Life and Territory
Over the past ten years, more than a million Guatemalans have voted in popular referenda against resource extraction activities on their lands and yet the government continues to grant licenses to transnational companies. Communities are rising up to peacefully defend their lands and protect their future.
Justice and Accountability
In the aftermath of the internal armed conflict, survivors groups filed charges against former de facto presidents and their military high commands for crimes against humanity and genocide. Witnesses and families continue to push for justice for crimes of the past that remain in impunity today.
U.S. Connections and Movement Building
We believe that our social movements here in the U.S. are intricately linked with the struggles of communities and organizations in Guatemala. We build people-to-people connections and solidarity across borders through U.S. speaking tours with Guatemalan human rights defenders, delegations, gatherings and workshops.
Latest from our blog
Words from Photographer CPR.Urbana on the National Day Against Forced Disappearance
In commemoration of the National Day Against Forced Disappearance in Guatemala, we share words from photographer CPR.Urbana on the importance of photography in the recuperation of historical memory. CPR.Urbana describes their project in the following way: The Communities of People in [...]
CREOMPAZ: Eight former military officers to stand trial for forced disappearances
On June 7, Judge Claudette DomĂnguez of Guatemala’s High-Risk Crimes Court “Aâ€? ordered eight former military officers to stand trial for crimes against humanity in one of the largest cases of forced disappearance in Latin America’s history. The legal case [...]
Building connections across borders for gender justice: Psychologist MaudĂ Tzay (ECAP) to join NISGUA on tour this Fall
A major legal victory took place in Guatemala earlier this year, when for the first time, sexual slavery was successfully tried as a crime against humanity. A former Colonel and Military Commissioner were convicted for crimes against humanity for sexual [...]
Ermitaño López: Marking one year in pre-trial detention for protecting land
One year ago today, Ermitaño López – “Don Taño� – was arrested in Guatemala City’s courthouse as he was attending a pre-trial declaration hearing in support of other land defenders from Barillas. Don Taño is a teacher and community organizer [...]