Latin American Studies at George Mason University and the Human Rights and Global Justice Working Group are pleased to present:
Truth and Justice in Guatemala: The Case of the Military Diary
Featuring: Makrina Gudiel
April 8, 2014, 4:30pm- 6:30pm
Research A 163
The connection between local and transnational human rights activism has been the subject of academic inquiry for some years now. The “boomerang theory” outlined by Kathryn Sikkink and Margaret Keck in their seminal book, Activists Beyond Borders, highlights the way domestic actors seek to leverage the support of international groups and institutions to address human rights abuses in highly repressive contexts, forming transnational advocacy networks that have fundamentally reshaped domestic as well as international politics. This event focuses on the efforts of one woman to bring to bear international support to her search for truth and justice in post-conflict Guatemala.
Makrina Gudiel is the coordinator of the Network of Guatemalan Women Human Rights Defenders. Makrina has brought two cases against the Guatemalan state before the Inter-American Court for Human Rights for the murders of her brother and father. Her brother was disappeared in 1983 by state forces and is included in the infamous Military Diary, an official registry of 183 people who were disappeared by government security forces between 1983 and 1985 that was later leaked to investigators. On February 5, 2014, Makrina testified before the court about the 2004 murder of her father, who was killed just days after the family had brought her brother’s case to the Inter-American system, and the government has refused to carry out an adequate investigation of the crime. Makrina will explain why her family has fought for justice for these crimes, despite ongoing death threats against them. She will also discuss international solidarity with Guatemala over the last 30 years, including the sanctuary movement of the 1980s and the decades-long struggle to end US military support for repressive regimes in Guatemala.
The Human Rights and Global Justice Working Groupand Latin American Studies are pleased to sponsor Makrina's visit to George Mason University, and warmly invite you to join us to hear her story.
This event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.
For further information please contact Latin American Studies Director Jo-Marie Burt at: jmburt@gmu.edu
March 10, 2014