“Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination considers the report of Guatemala”, 30 Apr 2015

Committee Experts…expressed concern about…excessive use of force by security personnel…and the attacks on human rights defenders…Experts inquired about the application of the principle of prior consultation and noted that the lack of regulation in this regard was a barrier to effective consultation with indigenous communities, including on hydropower and mining projects…Guatemala did not recognize indigenous lands and Experts wondered how this reconciled with the provisions of International Labour Organization Convention 169….The Government was aware of the conflict…for minerals, and had…proposed a moratorium for two years to allow time for the preparation of a draft bill on mining in Congress…