The 2023 Human Rights Award from Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights is awarded to Guatemalan Indigenous rights group, Parlamento del Pueblo Xinka (Parliament of the Xinka People).
The Parlamento del Pueblo Xinka (Parliament of the Xinka People) is the Assembly of the Xinka Ancestral Authorities, the second largest Indigenous people in Guatemala. The function of the Parliament is to maintain the Xinka people’s own form of ancestral organization, unity among the different Xinka communities, promote the value of Xinka culture, science, technology, cosmovision and spirituality, advocate through a grassroots organizational structure, promote women’s rights and, in doing so, foster wisdom, equity and cultural strength, and protect the Xinka ancestral territory.
The Xinka Parliament defends the cultural and territorial rights of the Xinka and other Indigenous peoples. Its work includes demanding respect for the right to prior and informed consultation and participation in peaceful resistance to mining projects. The Xinka Parliament is currently engaged in litigation to reclaim their rights throughout their territory. This includes the right to free, prior and informed consent, the defense of key Xinka authorities who have been criminalized for defending their territory, and the legal leadership of cases seeking accountability for killings, threats and attacks against land and human rights defenders.
Despite facing violent reprisals, the Xinka Parliament has achieved major successes, including skillfully securing a favorable ruling from the Constitutional Court, effectively suspending the mining license of the Escobal Mine.
Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights describes itself as advocating for human rights issues and pursuing strategic litigation to hold governments accountable at home and around the world. Their Human Rights Award identifies and honours those who embody Robert F. Kennedy’s belief that the power of individual and collective moral courage can overcome injustice. Each year, they honour outstanding champions of social justice who stand up to oppression, even at great personal risk, in the non-violent pursuit of human rights.
You can find out more about the award to the Xinka Parliament and watch the Award ceremony, here, 2023 Human Rights Award Ceremony, and you can find out more about the organisation here, RFK Human Rights.
Categories: Corruption, Criminalisation, Environment, Evictions, Genocide, Guatemala, Human Rights, Impunity, Indigenous peoples, Justice, Military, Mining, Resource Extraction, Solidarity in Action, Video, Violence
Guatemala Solidarity Network 
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