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	Guatemala Guatemala is a land renowned for its biodiversity; indeed, the name “Guatemala” originates from a Maya-Toltec word meaning “land of the trees.” Approximately half of the population are descendants of the ancient Maya. Their rich heritage and the country's natural beauty attract tourists in droves. However much of Guatemala, particularly in rural areas, is beset with poverty and the legacy of decades of violence. The unrest mainly stems from colonial practices of discrimination against indigenous groups, which over the years manifested in their near total disenfranchisement. ... more Guatemala is a land renowned for its biodiversity; indeed, the name “Guatemala” originates from a Maya-Toltec word meaning “land of the trees.” Approximately half of the population are descendants of the ancient Maya. Their rich heritage and the country's natural beauty attract tourists in droves. However much of Guatemala, particularly in rural areas, is beset with poverty and the legacy of decades of violence. The unrest mainly stems from colonial practices of discrimination against indigenous groups, which over the years manifested in their near total disenfranchisement. Civil War Spanish colonial rule in Guatemala ended in 1821. From the mid-19th to the late 20th century, the country faced chaotic upheavals in government, besieged by a series of increasingly militant dictatorships. In 1960, grassroots opposition to the government's flagrant violations of human rights erupted into civil war. Over the course of the next thirty-six years, an estimated 200,000 Guatemalans were killed; another 40,000-50,000 “disappeared.” Most of those affected belonged to indigenous populations living in rural areas. The men were either conscripted by the government or drawn into the guerrilla insurgency; women were often left solely responsible for their families, with little means of earning an adequate income. Democracy was established in Guatemala in 1985, but the violence continued for another decade before insurgent groups were absorbed into the government in 1996. Discrimination Against Indigenous Groups In Guatemala, discrimination against the Maya and other native groups is deeply rooted in colonial history. Even after the end of Spanish rule, the country was primarily governed by descendants of the colonizers; as a result, indigenous groups faced political and economic exclusion. The heavy Roman Catholic influence of colonial and post-colonial governments often led to the suppression of Mayan spiritual beliefs (although the opposite occurred as well, with many Catholics in Guatemala incorporating aspects of Mayan religion into their lives). The Peace Agreements at the end of the civil war eventually guaranteed the rights of these indigenous groups, although the legacy of discrimination remains. However, beginning in the 1980s with Nobel Peace Prize-winner Rigoberta Menchú's testimonial biography I, Rigoberta Menchú, there has been increased domestic and international recognition of the issue, which has resulted in great strides towards equality. close text

Guatemala

Guatemala is a land renowned for its biodiversity; indeed, the name “Guatemala” originates from a Maya-Toltec word meaning “land of the trees.” Approximately half of the population are descendants of the ancient Maya. Their rich heritage and the country's natural beauty attract tourists in droves. However much of Guatemala, particularly in rural areas, is beset with poverty and the legacy of decades of violence. The unrest mainly stems from colonial practices of discrimination against indigenous groups, which over the years manifested in their near total disenfranchisement. ... more

Civil War

Spanish colonial rule in Guatemala ended in 1821. From the mid-19th to the late 20th century, the country faced chaotic upheavals in government, besieged by a series of increasingly militant dictatorships. In 1960, grassroots opposition to the government's flagrant violations of human rights erupted into civil war. Over the course of the next thirty-six years, an estimated 200,000 Guatemalans were killed; another 40,000-50,000 “disappeared.” Most of those affected belonged to indigenous populations living in rural areas. The men were either conscripted by the government or drawn into the guerrilla insurgency; women were often left solely responsible for their families, with little means of earning an adequate income. Democracy was established in Guatemala in 1985, but the violence continued for another decade before insurgent groups were absorbed into the government in 1996.

Discrimination Against Indigenous Groups

In Guatemala, discrimination against the Maya and other native groups is deeply rooted in colonial history. Even after the end of Spanish rule, the country was primarily governed by descendants of the colonizers; as a result, indigenous groups faced political and economic exclusion. The heavy Roman Catholic influence of colonial and post-colonial governments often led to the suppression of Mayan spiritual beliefs (although the opposite occurred as well, with many Catholics in Guatemala incorporating aspects of Mayan religion into their lives). The Peace Agreements at the end of the civil war eventually guaranteed the rights of these indigenous groups, although the legacy of discrimination remains. However, beginning in the 1980s with Nobel Peace Prize-winner Rigoberta Menchú's testimonial biography I, Rigoberta Menchú, there has been increased domestic and international recognition of the issue, which has resulted in great strides towards equality.

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