Guatemala Human Rights Commission USA

I rely on GHRC for professional methods, knowledge,strategies for helping the indigenous make progress against overwhelming odds.

As a former volunteer with Sister Parish, I admire the work of the GHRC. It remains a major source of information for me.

As a journalist and student of Latin American Studies and Human Rights, GHRC is great source of information. Through the use of social media it keeps the public up-to-date with current human rights violations and legal cases in Guatemala. GHRC is also a dedication organisation which is committed to working with Guatemalans and local activists and human rights defenders for legal and social reform, accountability for past abuses carried out by the state against its own citizens, including genocide, the protection of indigenous land rights, and the end of the culture of impunity in Guatemala. Thank you GHRC for all the work that you do.

GHRC is my most relied upon source for information regarding human rights in Guatemala. They face difficult challenges in highlighting human rights abuses, but continue to do so and thereby help all people fighting for human or environmental rights in Guatemala. I wish there were more ways I could help them in their work. Thank you GHRC!

GHRC is a key source of information and inspiration for me as a former volunteer in Guatemala '88-90 now working as a social worker with Central American immigrants to the US.

Excelente trabajo informativo. Conozco esta organización por su trabajo tesonero en defensa ypromoción de los derechos humanos en Guatemala. Saludos respetuosos.

GHRC is an incredible organization in a multitude of ways. Their staff is incredibly dedicated to their cause, and the many ways in which they work for and with the indigenous peoples of Guatemala. Not only are they pushing for justice within the US for Guatemalans, but they are also on the ground in Guatemala working to support human rights defenders every day. They also host delegations in Guatemala to educate individuals who are interested the various human rights, environmental rights, and political issues in the country. I was fortunate enough to participate in one of their delegations and it was eye opening and life changing. Thank you GHRC for everything that you do!

I worked as an intern with GHRC between 2011-2012 and it was an incredible experience! GHRC is an organization of dedicated advocates who avidly seek to promote the rights of Guatemalans. They work tirelessly for the noble cause of protecting human rights. I would highly recommend getting involved to volunteer or donate to their worthy cause!

GHRC is a wonderful group helping indigenous people in Guatemala. We have a family tie to this group of people and GHRC is the most effective group helping.

I have always been honored to be involved in GHRC's mission and efforts. I look up to the staff members here as true agents of change, and I have learned so much about social justice, humanity and compassion from the organization.

GHRC has been very effective in Guatemala and it recognizes the fragility in the human and land rights of the people of Guatemala and it's purpose is to strengthen and stand up for the common good. This non-profit organization is a strong grassroot and it is essential to help it grow so the voices of Guatemala do not remain unheard.

GHRC is one of the few organizations that maintain a strong grassroots focus in all that they do. One of the only organizations with offices in both D.C. and Guatemala City, GHRC truly understands the needs of their partners on the ground, supporting their work. GHRC does not dictate policy or actions, but echoes the voice of Guatemalans who face great risks of violence every day. This is GHRC’s humble yet powerful role in the fight for peace and justice in Guatemala. I am proud to support GHRC’s work, and most importantly, the work of GHRC’s partners.

GHRC is an amazingly well run NGO, very effective in carrying out its work, supporting human rights defenders, and educating the American public about human rights issues in Guatemala. There is no other organization like it.

With a minuscule budget but a highly effective and efficient staff supported by an exuberant cadre of volunteers GHRC-USA walks the walk while talking the talk.

Steadfast group of people doing important work for Guatemala - and for the U.S.

I am the Secretary of Migrant Issues for the Guatemalan Peace and Development Network, I am originally from Guatemala and since the early 90's I received direct support and witnessed the work of the Guatemalan Human Rights Commission promoting not only human rights in Guatemala but also the human rights of Guatemalans living in the United States.

Great organization, committed to social justice and community organizing. Their work in solidarity with the people of Guatemala is stellar. Advocacy, education, awareness and learning experiences are part of the opportunities for Americans interested in getting involved.

GHRC does such amazing work. They are not only raising awareness, but making real change in the lives of the Guatemalan people. They deserve all of the recognition and support they can get.

GHRC is the go to source for ground truthed information on the struggles of Guatemala's indigenous people. The combination of their board's deep experience and knowledge in country and the dedication of their small but dedicated staff is unequaled. Their use of social media and electronic learning technology gives them a footprint far bigger than their budget.

As a USA-born Guatemalan, I find that the information and education that GHRC offers is exceptional! Staff provides accurate, timely information from the perspective of the Indigenous peoples of Guatemala, offering opportunities for furthering our own education and action as citizens of the world. GHRC hosts speakers and public events, and offer opportunities for travel to meet with activists working in Guatemala. To those of us who are aware of the sad history of the motherland, and of all of its rich character, GHRC is a valuable resource for honest information. Thank you GHRC!

The Guatemala Human Rights Commission is a trusted source for in-depth information and analysis concerning the ongoing human rights crisis and struggle for justice in Guatemala. I strongly recommend it to anyone in the human rights/social justice and Latin American Studies fields.

I first became involved with GHRC as an intern and have continued to remain involved as a donor. This is an amazing organization working hard to fight for human rights in Guatemala. Resources are well used to continue to effectively fight and educate the global community of the genocide, among other things, that has occurred in Guatemala.

I have been involved with social science research in Guatemala for nine years now, and in my experience GHRC has proven itself to be one of the most upright and dedicated nonprofits in the country - and does so on a much smaller budget than most nonprofits. I highly recommend them for those interested in accompaniment of human rights defenders in Guatemala.

Since I have known about GHRC only a few month ago, through FaceBook or CDHL don't remember, I have been an ardent supporter because they are very efficient, to the point, and good communicators: It is thanks to them that I was able to sum up and organize all the information about the Genocide trial (I am so far away from Guatemala that it became quite hard to understand what finally was happening – some kind of a terrible farce anyhow...) They support causes that I know are essential to the country. And I do wish they can go on with their tremendous work

The GHRC is an extremely effective organization that, despite its small size, makes a huge impact on the human rights situation in Guatemala. I had the opportunity to participate in a delegation with them in January, and I was astounded by the dedication they had towards their work. And not only were they extremely knowledgable on the issues that Guatemala currently faces, they had the respect of the communities and organizations that we visited, evidence of their positive presence and hard work there. I will continue to support the GHRC as much as I am able to, and believe wholeheartedly in the work that they do in Guatemala.

I still wear a piece of blue and yellow string wrapped around my wrist as a memory from my last trip to Guatemala with the GHRC. I've been on two delegations they help organize, and their work and relationships with the victims of the Internal Armed Conflict, and other communities in resistence is evident. The staff members were welcomed by community members as old friends, a sign that what the GHRC is doing is well received and important.
Their listserv and quarterly publications are also informative and encourage the general public to get involved with simple urgent action calls and letter writing campaigns that everyone and anyone can help with.

After I returned from visiting Guatemala, I wanted to support an organization that was doing work to promote peace, justice and equality in the country. Since becoming involved with GHRC, I have been extremely impressed with its hands-on work, as well as its push to inform and involve more people in the issues facing the people of Guatemala.

The GHRC is an amazing and unique organization that has forged meaningful relationships with victimized communities and those fighting for human rights in Guatemala. They do not shy away from tough issues, and stand at the front lines of communities in resistance. Through my experience on two GHRC-led delegations, I have seen first-hand how the organization plays an integral role in the human rights community in Guatemala, using their model of solidarity to complement and elevate the work of local actors. The GHRC has also activated and engaged a large community in the U.S. of people in solidarity with Guatemala, and for me they are one of my main sources for information and opportunities for action.

While some organizations stepped back from advocacy in Guatemala following the signing of peace accords and end of the civil war in the 1990's, GHRC has remained constant and steadfast in its commitment to justice and social progress. I was an election observer in 1995 and have continued in health and development work there, and the persistent and increasing threats to the fabric of civil society has shown their vision to be correct, and the need for their important advocacy remains great. They are a small organization that does very effective work.

GHRC is a small NGO making a big impact in Guatemala. I have been volunteering with GHRC for some years now, and I am humbled by the amazing work they do on an everyday basis on the ground for human rights in Guatemala.

This is a wonderful organization staffed by extremely hard-working and effective people. Small in size but large in heart, GHRC has helped save countless lives over the past thirty years, beginning with helping refugees from the war in Guatemala resettle and/or move on to seek political asylum in other countries. Bringing the truth to light during a time when no mainstream US media were covering the massacres in Guatemala--and helping to end US military aid to Guatemala--was important work. The group's work continues now, offering help to human rights defenders who are being threatened by forces wishing to maintain the status quo; helping end violence against women, which has spiraled frighteningly in recent years; and helping Guatemalans in the US live with full respect for their rights. The organization has brought hope, help, and healing to many.

This nonprofit is doing extremely important work to uncover the truth and bring closure and justice to Guatemala. As a resident of Guatemala for a total of 8 years, some of these during horrible times, and most recently a year ago, I know that the wounds are still fresh for thousands and thousands of families who lost loved ones. The work of GHRC is done with the highest professional standards. It is painstaking work, done lovingly by a team of brilliant, dedicated people who truly believe in this cause. I follow their progress in the news from Guatemala and from an ex-colleague that works there. It is profoundly important and I am heartened by the progress they are making.

I just returned from a vist to Guatemala with the GHRC. This visit gave me an opportunity to visit with many different communities and learn more about the history and life of the people of Guatemala. The focus of this delegation was Women in Resistance - and to that end we met with many different organizations of women who are standing up for themselves and for many other men, women and children. I first learned about the GHRC at an Ecumenical Advocacy Days event in Washington, DC and I have been very interested in the work they do in Guatemala primarily because I serve a congregation that has many families from Guatemala. I am so thankful to have had this opportunity to learn more and to be able to share so much more with the Guatemaltecas in the congregation. Thank you so much.

Traveling with the Guatemala Human Rights Commission on a recent delegation was a peak experience on all levels. Through their dedicated work there, they have built up so much trust, with so many communities and activists; and as a result our experience was much deeper and more profound than I ever could have imagined. They have earned respect there from the people they serve as well as at the U.S. Embassy where our presence was welcomed and obviously prepped for. Guatemala seems to always be balancing on the edge of tragedy and reform and I hope GHRC can always be around to help tip the scales towards justice.

I participated in the Guatemalan Human Rights Commission annual delegation in August 2012. The organization of the delegation and the speakers we met were exceptional and far exceeded my expectations. We meet incredible people who inspired me to further my education with a regional focus. Furthermore, the directors were remarkably knowledgeable and prepared, which encouraged me to follow their line of work. I recommend GHRC to all of those interested in Guatemala, but also to those interested in human rights, labor movements, indigenous movements, gender equality, political economy, and social and economic justice.

This past August I participated in the GHRC delegation focusing on Women's rights to life, body, and mother earth. The delegation exceeded my expectations. I first came across the organization over two years ago when I began my research on Femicides and Impunity in Guatemala. I found their original coverage and reports to be especially helpful. I am thrilled that I had the opportunity to experience Guatemala along side with the GHRC. Kudos!

As a teacher who spent two years in Guatemala, I signed on to GHRC-USA's 2008 delegation with high hopes of learning more about a country I had grown to love. The trip with the delegation far exceeded my expectations. Our facilitators were gracious experts who led productive meetings with government officials, activists, women's and survivors' groups. In some ways, I learned more about Guatemala and its people in that one trip than I had in my two years living and teaching in the city. Most importantly, the people we spoke with and the deep thinking that we did about social justice on the trip helped me to re-commit to social justice work and to carry the message of Guatemalans seeking peace and justice back to my community in the United States.

GHRC has consistently provided in-depth research on pressing human rights issues in Guatemala and cultivated the growth of a worldwide community of individuals and organizations committed to speaking out against egregious human rights violations in Guatemala. Their work is of high caliber, their staff is professional and dedicated and their information is consistently reliable and informative. Kudos to the GHRC staff and Board for your courageous work to expose human rights offenders, protect those who speak out against violations and share your passionate belief that a more just Guatemala is possible.

The US has had a major impact on Guatemala's history, usually a negative one. In 1954 we overthrew the democratically elected government of Jacobo Arbenz. This led to a bloody civil war that lasted officially until 1999 and resulted in a bloody genocidal war against the Indian population in the highlands. The fallout from this war continues to haunt Guatemala today. The Guatemalan Human Right Commission is really unique in its courageous defense of human rights in Guatemala. This is dangerous work and it goes against the grain of US foreign policy. Most US efforts to help Guatemala provide some form of charity which - in my view - just perpetuates Guatemala's dependence. The Commission has helped Guatemalans get their story out to the larger world through their publications and speaking tours. They have organized to prevent the Guatemalan military (closely allied with drug traffickers) from getting US military aid, and they have provided direct solidarity to many human rights activists.

I support Guatemala Human Rights Commission USA because I've visited Guatemala three times in the last ten years, helping Habitat Guatemala build homes for families, meeting people and hearing their stories. Guatemala touched our hearts on these visits, enough so that we took one of our grandsons with us and hope to bring other grandchildren in the near future. The support of GHRC cannot be under estimated. Without the constant reminders to the world about the plight and indignities suffered by Guatemalans, the abuse will continue. I'm so grateful that GHRC has become a voice for those who have no voice in their own country.

I am Carlos I from Guatemala living in Los Angeles, one of the thousands fo guatemalans who had to flee the reppression in our own country where we were not allow to speak up against the injustices and the request for better living conditions. As you may know most of the people arriving in the US have to endure a hardship crossing Mexico where the people we fear the most is the authorities, we are robbed, beatten, humillated and so fort, not diminishing the ordeal we go tru when crossing the border risking our lives, after all that I arrived at Los Angeles where nobody was waiting for me , no family and no friends, where I had to start from the very bottom not knowing the languaje. I want it to find someone to tell my story to, but I was afraid I needed someone to speak for me, I know many people can not grasp the frustration and fear we the political refugees had to face, they have not been tru it. To make my story short, if it was not for the Guatemala human rights commission the voice of the voicelees will no be heard it is been tru their hard work that my experience and others' are known. They need to be thank and recognized for their work. Carlos Ixquiac

GHRC plays a vital role in disseminating important advocacy campaigns along with information in the U.S. regarding human rights violations in Guatemala. As an independent journalist, GHRC's work complements my own in finding the right audience in the US and carrying out important campaigns.

As an advocate myself, against domestic violence and sexual assault, in Sarasota, Florida I thank you for everything that you do for my beloved Guatemala! You are always first to expose the atrocities occurring in my country, demand justice and do such amazing advocacy work with survivors of human rights violations. ¡Gracias por todo lo que hacen!