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NISGUA denounces the attack on social activist Tania Palencia

We are deeply concerned about the attack at the home of social activist Tania Palencia on May 22 . Tania is a human rights defender and has made fundamental contributions to Guatemalan social movements, and is also an active part of the Center for Human Rights Legal Action (CALDH).

We denounce this act of aggression and intimidation, which is part of a worrying pattern of violence against human rights defenders in Guatemala. Since restrictions on mobility began due to COVID-19, this is the ninth attack on defenders that CALDH has documented.

We stand in solidarity with Tania Palencia and demand that the Guatemalan state guarantee her safety. The Guatemalan state must guarantee respect for human rights during the pandemic and always.

NISGUA denuncia la agresión a la activista social Tania Palencia

Estamos profundamente preocupades por el ataque del pasado 22 de mayo en la casa de la activista social  Tania Palencia. Tania es defensora de derechos humanos y ha realizado aportes fundamentales en los movimientos sociales guatemaltecos, así mismo forma parte activa del Centro Para la Acción Legal de los Derechos Humanos (CALDH). 

Denunciamos este acto de agresión e intimidación, el cual forma parte de un patrón preocupante de violencia en contra de  defensores de los derechos humanos en Guatemala. Desde que empezaron las restricciones a la movilidad por causa del COVID-19, este es el noveno ataque a defensores que CALDH ha documentado.

Nos solidarizamos con Tania Palencia y exigimos que el estado guatemalteco garantice su seguridad. El estado guatemalteco debe garantizar el respeto a los derechos humanos durante la pandemia y siempre.

ALERT FOR AGGRESSIONS AGAINST HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS 

ATTACK AGAINST SOCIAL ACTIVIST TANIA PALENCIA

Alert 09-2020

On the morning of May 22, social activist Tania Palencia was attacked by two men who violently entered her home located in zone 12, physically assaulting her, stealing her work equipment (computer and cell phone) and cash. During the assault, the attackers tied up another person who was accompanying Tania at the time.

Tania Palencia is a social activist, human rights defender, academic, writer, communicator and has made important contributions in relation to social movements, women’s and Indigenous peoples’ rights in Guatemala; she is also an active member of the Center for Legal Action on Human Rights, CALDH where she has held important positions on the Board of Directors. Her political and social career has been valuable to society.

Various social organizations have repudiated and condemned the attack suffered by Tania and have expressed their solidarity. Additionally, the Human Rights Ombudsman, Jordán Rodas, issued a solidarity statement condemning the act of violence and asking the Public Prosecutor’s office to carry out the necessary investigations to find those responsible, in addition to asking the Ministry of the Interior to provide the necessary security to the defender, he also recommends that the Government of Guatemala continue the approval of public policy for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders as well as promote and respect their work.

Read the alert in Spanish

Flyer of the CALDH alert against human rights defenders