Indigenous Rights & Justice
Secure, guarantee, and enhance land tenure and associated rights for the Maya people (Q’eqchi’ and Mopan) in southern Belize in accordance with the implementation of the Caribbean Court of Justice Consent Order.
From the JCS goal statement
Rights affirmed in court, respected in practice
The Maya people of southern Belize have pursued recognition of their customary land rights through their communities, the national courts and regional human rights bodies. From the Toledo Maya Cultural Council’s case in 1996 to the 2015 Consent Order of the Caribbean Court of Justice, the courts have affirmed that the Maya people have rights to their lands and resources.
The Consent Order was a beginning, not an end. Since 2015 the Maya people and the Government of Belize have taken step after step to implement it: the Toledo Maya Land Rights Commission, The Agreement, a draft Maya land tenure policy, a dispute resolution framework, steps for free, prior and informed consent, and an Indigenous Peoples’ Ministry.
JCS supports this work alongside the Toledo Alcaldes Association and the Maya Leaders Alliance, so that rights affirmed in court are respected in practice. The work continues: in 2026 the Maya village of Jalacte won a major victory at the Court of Appeal.
2015
CCJ Consent Order
The Caribbean Court of Justice affirms Maya customary land rights
15
Implementation milestones
Recorded between the Consent Order and January 2021
How we count: we only publish a figure after JCS and the Maya institutions have confirmed it.
Work under way
In the courts
The Maya people and their institutions have pursued recognition of their customary land rights through the national courts and regional human rights bodies.
Drag or scroll sideways to follow the cases.
1996
Toledo Maya Cultural Council v The Attorney General of Belize
Supreme Court of Belize
1996–2004
Maya Indigenous Communities v Belize
IACHR Decision — Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
2007
Aurelio Cal et al v AG
Supreme Court of Belize
2008–2010
Maya Leaders Alliance et al v AG et al
Supreme Court of Belize
2010–2013
AG v Maya Leaders Alliance et al
Court of Appeal
2015
Consent Order — Maya Leaders Alliance et al v AG
Caribbean Court of Justice
And beyond the courts
Free, prior and informed consent
Steps to guide development projects, legislation writing, policy, and other actions that affect the lands and well-being of the Maya people.
Indigenous Peoples’ Ministry
A Ministry established by the Government of Belize and given the authority to implement the 2015 CCJ Consent Order.
Implementing the Consent Order
Fifteen milestones, from the Consent Order to a new TMLRC Commissioner.
