Punta Gorda, Belize : +501-670-0993 (BZ), +001-301-328-2022 (US)
PROGRAMS & INITIATIVES
Julian Cho Memorial
Land Rights Struggle
MACHI - Heritage
MEF - Education
MYC - Youth
aya Land Rights Struggle
“Over the years, many things have changed for the Maya people. One thing, however, remains unchanged: the lack of political will from the government to secure protection of our lands. We continue to witness the neglect of our people. We continue to experience the violation of our right to our lands that we live on and depend on for sustenance. We continue, therefore, to struggle for accountability, fairness, and equality.” (Excerpt from a letter by Christina Coc, reflecting on the Maya land rights struggle. Click here to read entire letter.)
The Maya people have struggled for centuries against violations of their rights to their own land. Even today the Mopan and Q’eqchi’ Maya peoples of southern Belize continue in this fight. They have taken their land rights claim to the highest courts of Belize and from there, when those courts failed to act, they brought it to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). The IACHR returned a favorable decision for the Maya communities in 2004. However, despite this and other court decisions won on behalf of these communities, they continue to struggle against violations by the Belizean government of their now-legally-recognized rights. The Julian Cho Society has been integrally involved on behalf of the Maya communities in these actions, and we continue this effort today.
Please follow the links below to learn more about the struggle of the Maya communities of southern Belize…
The Maya people have struggled for centuries against violations of their rights to their own land. Even today the Mopan and Q’eqchi’ Maya peoples of southern Belize continue in this fight. They have taken their land rights claim to the highest courts of Belize and from there, when those courts failed to act, they brought it to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). The IACHR returned a favorable decision for the Maya communities in 2004. However, despite this and other court decisions won on behalf of these communities, they continue to struggle against violations by the Belizean government of their now-legally-recognized rights. The Julian Cho Society has been integrally involved on behalf of the Maya communities in these actions, and we continue this effort today.
Please follow the links below to learn more about the struggle of the Maya communities of southern Belize…
