Rosalina Tuyuc

Rosalina Tuyuc Velásquez (born San Juan Comalapa, department of Chimaltenango, 1956)[1] is a Guatemalan human rights activist. She was elected as a Congressional deputy in 1995, elected from the national list of the New Guatemala Democratic Front, and served as Vice President of Congress during that period.[2] Tuyuc is a Kaqchikel Mayan.[3]

In June 1982, the Guatemalan Army kidnapped and murdered her father, Francisco Tuyuc. Three years later, on 24 May 1985, her husband suffered the same fate.[4] In 1988, she founded the National Association of Guatemalan Widows (CONAVIGUA), which has become a leading Guatemalan human rights organization.[5]

In 1994, Tuyuc was decorated by the French Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur for her humanitarian activities.[6] On 6 July 2004 President Óscar Berger appointed her to chair the National Reparations Commission (Comisión Nacional de Resarcimiento).[7] In 2011, she publicly criticized the Commission for its failure to adequately address the damage caused by the war.[8]

The Niwano Peace Foundation of Japan awarded their 2012 Niwano Peace Prize to Tuyuc "in recognition of her extraordinary and dogged work for peace as a courageous human rights activist and leader." [9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Entrevue avec Rosalina Tuyuc Projet Accompagnement Québec-Guatemala, 2003-11-17
  2. ↑ Rosalina Tuyuc: verità per il Guatemala 2003-04-02
  3. ↑ "Mayan Pupils Allowed to Wear Traditional Attire". New York Times. 1999-04-08. Retrieved 2008-06-23.
  4. ↑ Rico, Maite (December 1999). "We can't forgive until we have justice". The UNESCO Courier. Retrieved 2008-06-23.
  5. ↑ Martinez, Emma (January 1994). "A November Full of Pitfalls". Revista Envio (150)..
  6. ↑ School of the Americas Watch
  7. ↑ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2004: Guatemala United States Department of State, 2005-02-28
  8. ↑ Valdez, Sandra (May 31, 2011). "Rosalina Tuyuc: "Vemos con mucha indignación al PNR"". Prensa Libre. Retrieved 2011-05-31..
  9. ↑ "Guatemalan Human Rights Activist Rosalina Tuyuc Receives 29th Niwano Peace Prize". United News Wire. May 10, 2012..

External links