II. HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS
B. Communications sent to Guatemala between the two visits
20. The increased number and intensity of attacks against human rights defenders in Guatemala were among the factors that prompted the follow-up visit of the Special Representative. In the time between her two visits, the Special Representative addressed to the Government 87 communications of allegations of human rights violations affecting defenders. While reiterating the caveat that the picture resulting from the communications sent by the Special Representative does not reflect human rights violations against defenders in the magnitude they occur worldwide but only those reported to her, Guatemala emerged among the countries of greatest concern among those on which the Special Representative received information. The 87 communications of the Special Representative reported allegations of human rights violations affecting over 170 defenders, a third of whom were women, and some 100 organizations, including trade unions; women’s organizations; farmers’ organizations and those working on land rights; environmentalist organizations; youth associations, students’ networks and children’s rights organizations; media associations; organizations working on justice and the right to truth, including associations of the families of victims of past abuses; indigenous organizations; associations to protect the rights of displaced persons; organizations working on economic, social and cultural rights; organizations providing legal aid and assistance; organizations working on the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people; religious organizations engaged in humanitarian, social and human rights work; organizations working on migrants’ rights; international NGOs; and staff of the Office of the Ombudsperson.
C. Overview of attacks and violations against human rights defenders
6. Youth defenders
48. A youth organization working on the rights of lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgender people is exposed to attacks linked to the stigmatization around sexual orientation and gender identity and reported, inter alia, constant harassment from the police.
Link to full text of the report: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/defenders/docs/A.HRC.10.12.Add.3