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Indigenous Minority Rights – 1997

In compliance with the agreements, Guatemala ratified International Labor Organization Convention 196 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples.¹

The general situation of widespread discrimination against indigenous peoples, particularly with regard to the justice system, did not change much during the initial periods of the implementation of the agreements.²

The Agreement on the Implementation, Compliance and Verification Timetable for the Peace Agreements stipulated that the constitutional reforms related to the rights of indigenous peoples should be presented to the Congress of the Republic for ratification by 15 April, but the Follow-up Commission rescheduled the deadline for 15 May. The Guatemalan government presented the draft constitutional amendments to the Congress on 15 May, thus technically fulfilling the terms of the agreements.³

The Government created the Joint Commission for Reform and Participation in September 1997.⁴

1. “Report of the United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala (MINUGUA) for the Consultative Group Meeting for Guatemala,” United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala — MINUGUA, January 18, 2002.
2. “Seventh Report on Human Rights of the United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala,” United Nations General Assembly (A/52/330), September 10, 1997.
3. “United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala: Report of the Secretary-General,” United Nations General Assembly (A/51/936), June 30, 1997.
4. “The Indigenous Peoples of Guatemala: Overcoming Discrimination in the Framework of the Peace Agreements, Verification Report,” United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala (MINUGUA), September 2001.