GUATEMALAN FOREIGN MINISTRY CREATES HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 001124 SIPDIS DEPT PASS TO WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV KDEM KJUS SOCI UN GT SUBJECT: GUATEMALAN FOREIGN MINISTRY CREATES HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE REF: 07 GUATEMALA 1418 ¶1. The Foreign Ministry created an office to coordinate Guatemala's human rights agenda with national institutions, multilateral organizations, and embassies. The "Directorate of Human Rights, Rights of the Indigenous Peoples, Environment, Culture, and International Humanitarian Rights" is headed by indigenous leader Francisco Cali Tzay, who has been active in promoting human rights nationally and internationally. Cali Tzay previously served as Presidential Commissioner on Discrimination and Racism against the Indigenous Peoples in Guatemala and as a member of the UN Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD)(reftel). In 1996, he co-founded the Human Rights Legal Action Center (CALDH) in Guatemala. ¶2. Cali Tzay, who assumed his new duties on August 18, told Poloff August 28 that the MFA had been working for several months to establish the new office as part of its effort to modernize and restructure the Ministry. He noted, however, that the GOG has yet to obligate funds for its estimated two-year budget of Q3.5 million (USD 475,673). He commented that, as the GOG has no funds currently available to support the new office, he is seeking international donor support for the initial two years of its operation. While the Dutch government has committed to covering almost all of the estimated Q3.5 million budget, including expenses for training, exchange visits, and travel to Washington, New York, and Geneva, Cali Tzay anticipated additional expenses and welcomed any USG support. ¶3. The human rights office will be divided into six sub-directorates focusing on: political and civil rights; cultural, social, and economic rights; rights of the indigenous peoples; culture; international humanitarian rights; and the environment. Currently staffed by two MFA officials, the office would eventually be expanded to house 18 staff members. Additional contractors would be employed depending on the necessities and demands of the office, he said. ¶4. He confirmed that President Colom is also contemplating creating a "Secretariat of Indigenous Affairs" to facilitate coordination of government policies affecting the country's 24 indigenous groups (Xinca, Garifuna, and 22 Mayan groups). Currently, according to Cali Tzay, only one Cabinet member -- the Minister of Culture -- is indigenous. In addition, two Vice Ministers of Culture, a Vice Minister of Education, one Supreme Court judge (out of 13),and a few members of Congress are indigenous. ¶5. Comment: The new MFA office should facilitate our bilateral relationship on human rights, in particular UNGA Third Committee issues, and other multilateral initiatives. It should also serve to highlight the rights of the indigenous peoples and environmental rights as thematic priorities that reflect Colom's social democratic agenda. McFarland