U.S. lawmakers are urging Secretary of State Antony Blinken to denounce the prosecution of Indigenous environmental defenders in Guatemala and demand justice for a murdered activist.
Zack Budryk reports for The Hill.
In short:
- Congressional Democrats, led by Sen. Ed Markey and others, sent a letter to Blinken condemning the Guatemalan government's targeting of Indigenous environmental leaders.
- The letter highlights the imprisonment of Sofia Tot Ac and the murder of Noé Gómez Barrera, linking these incidents to broader violence against environmental defenders.
- A report from Global Witness shows nearly 200 environmental defenders were killed in 2023, with calls for international intervention intensifying.
Key quote:
“In the remaining time of the Biden administration, it must publicly condemn the prosecution of Sofia Tot Ac and other indigenous environmental defenders who have spoken out against energy projects.”
— Congressional letter to Antony Blinken
Why this matters:
Violence against environmental defenders threatens human rights and sustainable development, often tied to opposition to resource exploitation. International condemnation may pressure governments to protect activists and uphold justice.
Learn more: U.S. sanctions on Guatemalan nickel mines worsened local hardship
