Guatemala must break cycle of discrimination

[Judi Lynn]

Saturday, 12 May 2018, 11:36 am
Press Release: United Nations Human Rights Commissioner
Guatemala must break cycle of discrimination against indigenous peoples, says UN expert

GENEVA (11 May 2018) – UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, has expressed concerns over the discrimination and marginalisation of indigenous peoples in Guatemala, referring to extreme poverty, malnutrition, forced evictions and criminal prosecutions.

At the end of a 10-day visit to the country, the UN human rights expert urged the Government to reconstruct its relationship with indigenous peoples. She also called on the Government to ensure accountability and reparations with respect to Guatemala’s civil war from 1960 to 1996.

The number of people living in poverty in Guatemala has increased 22 per cent in the last 10 years, she said. Around 40 per cent of indigenous peoples live in extreme poverty and more than half of all indigenous children are malnourished.

“I am extremely concerned over the increasing inequalities in the country and over the failure of the Government to address structural discrimination and allocate funds to address the grave situation of indigenous peoples,” Tauli-Corpuz said.

More:
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1805/S00067/guatemala-must-break-cycle-of-discrimination.htm