PBI-Guatemala attends the presentation of new public policy for the protection of human rights defenders
The Peace Brigades International-Guatemala Project has posted on social media:
“Today, PBI is attending the presentation of the #PublicPolicy for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders.
‘Defending human rights is not a crime, it is an act of active citizenship and deep love for the country,’ said Marco Antonio Sandoval, Minister of the Interior. ‘The Public Policy also represents a change in the mindset of the State: defenders are not enemies but allies of democracy (…) the State of Guatemala sees them, hears them and recognises them.’
The tool, which seeks to protect and recognise the role of defenders in a democratic society, was approved after a process that began in 2016 as a result of a request from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), within the framework of compliance with the guarantee of non-repetition, following the murder of defender Florentin Gudiel.
‘Public policy is the first step, we urge you to keep moving forward,’ @udefegua [Unit for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders in Guatemala] asked President Arevalo.”
The Associated Press reports: “The Guatemalan government on Thursday [November 13] presented its new public policy for the protection of human rights defenders that defines the actions to be taken when their life, safety and integrity are violated. This includes risk and threat prevention mechanisms, a protection system, and investigation protocols. It also promotes coordination with the Judiciary to guarantee access to justice and dignified reparation.”
Republica adds with additional details: “The Minister of the Interior, Marco Antonio Villeda, explained that the policy is based on three pillars: prevention of risks and threats through early warning systems, comprehensive protection with physical, digital and psychosocial measures, and access to justice and reparation to guarantee effective investigations and sanctions.”
Prensa Comunitaria reports: “The initiative seeks to address a historical context of attacks against defenders, including murders, criminalization, harassment and hate speech, especially directed at indigenous leaders, environmental leaders, journalists and women defenders.”
Their article further explains: “The policy defines a human rights defender as “any person who, individually or collectively, acts or seeks to act to promote and procure the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms,” according to international standards. The document also emphasizes that the status of defender is determined exclusively by the activity carried out, regardless of whether he receives remuneration, belongs to an organization or acts occasionally or permanently. A wide range of actors are included: from indigenous leaders and justice operators to journalists, community communicators and public officials, as long as their actions are peaceful and promote human rights, recognizing themselves as subjects of rights and not only as objects of protection.”
And Prensa Libre highlights: “Some data presented by Copadeh [the Presidential Commission for Peace and Human Rights] indicate that during the years 2022 and 2023, around nine thousand attacks against human rights defenders were registered, of which one thousand 500 were against communicators and journalists.”
Protection Mechanisms elsewhere
PBI-Canada and PBI-Mexico are working in collaboration with Espacio OSC to strengthen the existing Protection Mechanism for human rights and journalists in Mexico. Radio Canada International recently reported on the PBI supported advocacy intervention by Espacio OSC in Ottawa at: Canada asked to strengthen protection for defenders and journalists (RCI, November 5, 2025).
PBI-Canada also recently noted the Government of Canada highlighting the need to improve the Protection Mechanism in Honduras during that country’s Universal Periodic Review at the United Nations: Canada calls on Honduras to strengthen its Protection Mechanism for human rights defenders at UPR intervention at the UN in Geneva (PBI-Canada, November 12, 2025).
Global Witness has described Colombia’s National Protection Unit (NPU) as a “flawed protection mechanism”. They further note that in 2024 the NPU granted protection to over 4,000 human rights defenders and provided 321 groups with collective protection measures – 31 per cent of the requests the NPU received. In 2024, five defenders who had requested or were under protection were murdered.
We continue to follow this.
