April 21, 2026, New York

Indigenous leader demands justice for Guatemala's marginalized communities at UN forum

Statement delivered at the 25th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

Margarita Díaz, speaking on behalf of the Wuxhtaj Council—a partner of Cultural Survival's Indigenous Community Media Fund—addressed the 25th UNPFII session, denouncing the lack of culturally appropriate medical care for Indigenous Peoples in Guatemala. She also called on the Guatemalan state to end the criminalization and imprisonment of land defenders and those advocating for the collective rights of Indigenous communities.

Chin tihoxhli teyet heyamanil, mamin miyay, oxhimi k'ulnhe heyehi. Honorable Madam President, State Representatives, Sisters and Brothers. I am Margarita Díaz, a Maya Popti' woman from Guatemala, speaking on behalf of the Wuxhtaj Council and the Maya People's Council (CPO).

Like many peoples around the world, Guatemala continues to suffer the consequences of colonization and the impact of today's capitalist system, which has brought genocide, destruction, dispossession, and the subjugation of our communities.

In the 21st century, in my country, 49% of children under five suffer from chronic malnutrition, placing us sixth worldwide in this crisis. Discussing health in Guatemala means confronting a structural crisis rooted in racism, historical exclusion, and systemic human rights violations.

The health of our peoples is undermined when our territories are invaded by extractive projects that poison and destroy them; when our ancestral authorities are criminalized; and when defending Mother Earth is treated as a crime.

The imposition of extractive projects—without free, prior, and informed consent—has fueled conflict in our territories, violating our rights while also harming our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Fear, violence, the fracturing of community bonds, and the destruction of our natural commons are also forms of sickness.

In the face of this reality, the Maya People's Council (CPO) demands:

• That the Guatemalan state immediately cease the criminalization of all defenders fighting for the dignity and rights of Indigenous Peoples.
• An end to the persecution of Ermitano López and Rigoberto Juárez, who have raised their voices and resisted hydroelectric projects in northern Huehuetenango.
• The release of Héctor Chaclán and Luis Pacheco, imprisoned for a year on terrorism charges for defending democracy in our country.
• Respect and recognition for our traditional health systems, in accordance with our right to self-determination, and
• The establishment of a Plurinational State to ensure the Buen Vivir (Good Living) of all peoples.

We urge the international community to take action to guarantee the full enjoyment of human rights, including equitable, timely, and culturally appropriate access to physical and mental healthcare, and to address the deep inequalities affecting our peoples.

Self-determination is the inalienable right of Indigenous Peoples. Upholding and exercising it protects the health of Mother Earth—and with it, our own. Respect and unity in diversity are the foundation of our present and the bedrock of our future.

Thank you!