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STORY: OHCHR / GUATEMALA VOLKER TÜRK VISIT
TRT: 02:57
SOURCE: OHCHR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 17 JULY 2024, TOTONICAPÁN, GUATEMALA
1. Wide shot, exterior, Totonicapán
2. Wide shot, exterior, municipal building
3. Various shots, HC Türk meeting with Governor of the department of Totonicapán, Delfina García
4. Various shots, general views, Totonicapán
5. Various shots, HC Volker Türk meeting Indigenous leaders of the 48 Cantons
6. Various shots, HC Volker Türk with Indigenous leaders
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“I am in Totonicapán in the heartland of indigenous populations. I'm so deeply impressed by what I have heard. The people behind me are the local leaders, women and men who last year led the fight for democracy, the fight for rule of law. They have also developed an incredible sense of community leadership within their communities. And who every year elect new leaders, new local leaders. It's absolutely important that we learn from them, and that we we embrace and learn about their culture, including about their governance. How they interrelate with each other and with nature and the planet. There's a lot to learn for us.”
8. Pan right, walking into indigenous leaders’ communal house
9. Various shots, HC Volker Türk meeting with Indigenous leaders’ communal house
10. Med shot, pictures of protesters killed in communal house
11. Pan left, HC in front of mural depicting the protesters killed
On the second day of his official visit to Guatemala, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Wednesday (17 Jul) travelled to the heart of the country and met with the Governor of the department of Totonicapán, Delfina García, the first indigenous woman to hold such position.
The Council of the Indigenous leaders of the 48 Cantons of Totonicapán is an Indigenous government, which in 2023 was at the forefront of the protests in defense of democracy and the elections’ result. The new Government appointed the local authorities, including, Delfina García.
The High Commissioner participated in a ritual with the local Council of the 48 Cantons of Totonicapán. They discussed the challenges that these communities face, including deep-rooted racism and inequalities.
“I am in Totonicapán in the heartland of indigenous populations. I'm so deeply impressed by what I have heard. The people behind me are the local leaders, women and men who last year led the fight for democracy, the fight for rule of law. They have also developed an incredible sense of community leadership within their communities. And who every year elect new leaders, new local leaders. It's absolutely important that we learn from them, and that we we embrace and learn about their culture, including about their governance. How they interrelate with each other and with nature and the planet. There's a lot to learn for us,”
said the High Commissioner.
The UN Human Rights Chief also met with the victims of the “Alaska summit Massacre”. In 2012 a peaceful protest by Indigenous Peoples from Totonicapán was violently repressed by the military, which resulted in 7 people killed and dozens seriously injured. The High Commissioner expressed his solidarity and support in their fight for justice.
