Foundation For Human Rights in Guatemala

Who We Are

What is FHRG?

The Foundation for Human Rights in Guatemala is located in Chicago. It was founded in May, 1993, by a group of North Americans and Guatemalans concerned about the human rights situation in Guatemala. The organization was created with a mission to educate, make known, monitor and be vigilant for the full respect of human rights. Now our principal objective is to work for the complete fulfillment of the Global Accord on Human Rights, signed between the Guatemalan Revolutionary National Unity (URNG) and the government of Guatemala. Another objective of FHRG is to help demolish the wall of impunity that continues to exist in Guatemala.

It is a group of volunteers who actually make up the Foundation for Human Rights in Guatemala. They contribute part of their time and resources in order to accomplish each of these activities, according to a work plan put forth at the beginning of each year. FHRG carries out its plans in coordination with other organizations, including groups in Guatemala, such as the Mutual Support Group (GAM) or the Commission on Human Rights in Guatemala (CDHG). Among the organizations in Chicago are Casa Guatemala and Konojel Junam. We also work at a national level in the United States, coordinating with organizations such as the Guatemala Human Rights Commission (GHRC/USA), the Coalition for the Missing, the National Network Atanacio Tzul and the United Representation of Guatemalan Opposition (RUOG).

What is the principal agenda of the FRHG?

Our primary activities are to hold forums and to make presentations in places such as colleges, universities, churches, community groups concerning the human rights situation in Guatemala. We also publish a monthly newsletter dealing with the political, social and economic situation in Guatemala. We organize delegations to Guatemala of people from North America, to learn about the Guatemalan situation. They visit places and organizations in Guatemala which might show a slice of the life that many Guatemalans face.

The FHRG supports and responds to urgent actions initiated by different popular organizations in Guatemala. One way of providing this kind of support is through FHRG's World Wide Web page. FHRG monitors Guatemala news sources and communications from different organizations and posts semi-weekly news clippings concerning human rights in Guatemala. The Web site also contains FHRG newsletters and links to other information on human rights and Guatemala.

Special, among legal cases for which FHRG offers its support, is that of Carlos Gomez, who is the coordinator of FHRG. Carlos suffered an attempt on his life on February 25, 1993 in Guatemala. He was dragged from a bus by a group of heavily armed men, shot and left for dead. Their dress and weaponry showed them to be members of the Guatemalan army. Carlos was brought to an intensive care unit in a Guatemalan hospital where he was operated on four times. But another attempt was made on his life in the hospital, forcing him to leave the country. He finally recovered in a hospital in Chicago.

Carlos, with the support of the FRHG, has initiated and pursued a legal case against the Guatemalan government before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights of the Organization of American States (OEA). He holds the Guatemalan Army responsible and demands punishment of those involved. In June of 1997, the Commission ruled in favor of Carlos and found the government of Guatemala responsible.

Annual activities of the FRHG

Some of this year's planned activities include:

• Two Symposiums on Human Rights in Guatemala
• A political rally or demonstration, depending on events in Guatemala
• Fund raising activities for the FRHG as well as for organizations in Guatemala, such as the Guatemalan New Democratic Front (FDNG) and the National Confederation for Human Rights in Guatemala (CONADEHGUA)
• Public education and formation activities concerning human rights

Principal personalities who have participated in FHRG activities

• Nineth Montenegro - Congresswoman for the Guatemalan New Democratic Front (FDNG)
• Nery Barrios - Representative of the Unity of Trade Union and Popular Action (UASP)
• Mario Polanco - Director of the Mutual Support Group (GAM)
• Raul Molina - Member of the Unitary Representation of Opposition in Guatemala (RUOG)
• Douglas Cassell - Director of the International Institute on Human Rights of DePaul University, Chicago
• Jennifer Harbury - Human rights activist and attorney
• Sister Alice Zachman - Director of the Guatemala Human Rights Commission (GHRC/USA)
• Daniel Matul - Director of the Guatemala Maya League, with headquarters in Costa Rica
• Orlando Blanco - Representative of the Guatemalan New Democratic Front (FDNG)
• Oswaldo Enriquez - Representative of the Commission on Human Rights in Guatemala (CDHG)
• Francisco Ortega - Representative of the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity (URNG)

How you can help participate in the work of the FHRG

We welcome your participation in the FHRG. We are always looking for people willing to contribute to the construction of a new Guatemala. The FHRG is led by a collective and the decisions made are by consensus. We work as a collective, meeting every two weeks, seeking solutions to problems and carrying out our work plan. You can become part of this collective or at least part of the network of people who work in collaboration with the FHRG. Some might want to get involved with urgent actions. Others might want to help economically in the development of our work.

Please contact us and tell us how you would like to participate.

Where is Guatemala located?

Guatemala is located in Central America. It has ten and one half million inhabitants, with one of the highest levels of poverty in Latin America. Guatemala registers the highest rate of illiteracy in the American continent. According to data of the World Health Organization, Guatemala is one of the countries with the most alarming levels of infant mortality and malnutrition, with one of the most entrenched systems of exploitation and uneven distribution of wealth.

Guatemala lived in armed conflict for 36 years, which amounted to the longest in Latin American history. It cost Guatemala more than 150,000 lives, 45,000 "disappearances" and created a countless number of orphans.

On December 29, 1996, the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity (URNG) and the Guatemalan government signed a global Peace Accord, seeking to resolve the problems generated by the internal armed conflict in Guatemala.

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