The Committee of Peasant Development (CODECA) has condemned the murder of Juana Raimundo,a member of the Ixil people and nurse, who was kidnapped during the night of Friday, 27 July 2018, and found dead the following day..

The 25-year-old human rights defender worked with different groups in her community to implement policies to forward social justice and to combat corruption. Her body was found on the road near the village of Acambalam, Quiché and showed signs of torture.

Juana was a member of the coordinating committee of CODECA in the Nebaj micro-region. In addition, she was elected a member of the Municipal Executive Committee of the Movement for the Liberation of Peoples (MLP).

CODECA has reported that, to date, six human rights defenders and coordinators belonging to the organisation have been killed. The members have demanded that the Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP) carry out a prompt investigation to to identify those responsible for the murders.

The Unit for the Protection of Defenders of Human Rights (UDEFEGUA ), has expressed its concern about the increase in attacks against human rights defenders. A study conducted from January 1 to June 8, 2018 recorded 135 attacks. Of the total 32 were women, there were 76 acts of criminalization, 13 murders and two attempted murders.