Ms Ramona Margarita Domingo Díaz:

I raise the case of violations of human rights of women, especially indigenous women in Guatemala. These abuses are very strong because as women, and above all, specifically as indigenous women, we have suffered the violation of our rights by these transnational companies in the west of the country and in the east of the country. There have been sexual attacks and rapes of our sisters who have raised their voice to protect our territories. There has been criminalisation, legal persecution and the State, instead of complying with ILO Convention 169, which the state has ratified, there is repression against us. As women, we are the most affected by contamination. This is why we have raised our voice.

As women who give life, we can see how Mother Earth suffers with these extractive industries. As indigenous peoples, in our cosmovision, Mother Earth has life that we should respect. It is really important for us women to have binding treaties and binding legislation that can support our rights as indigenous women. There are three different indigenous groups in Guatemala: Maya, Xinka and Garifuna. We are looking for our rights as women across the board to be supported. We thank Ireland for its support in all of these processes.