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Today, as the world commemorates International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, it is crucial to highlight the ongoing struggles and resilience of Indigenous women. This day, is a reminder of the 476 million Indigenous peoples worldwide who continue to fight for their rights, dignity, and the preservation of their cultures.
Margarita Caal Caal is one of the 11 Q'eqchi women from the community of Lote Ocho who suffered serious human rights abuses during an armed eviction from her land in 2007. Photo: Simone Dalmasso/Trócaireatacke
In January 2007, 11 Q’eqchi women from the community of Lote Ocho in the Polochic Valley in Guatemala suffered serious human rights abuses during an armed eviction from their land to make way for a Canadian mining company.
For a long time, the women of Lote Ocho did not speak about the brutalities they endured, not even among themselves.
Margarita Caal Caal, a mother of six, reflects on that fateful day: “On that day in 2007, all the joy and happiness in our community disappeared. The mining company and police came to evict us. They raped us, they burned our houses and destroyed everything we had. We were pushed into extreme poverty.”
Before the eviction, Margarita’s community led a peaceful and self-sustaining life, cultivating their own food. Now, the land is useless, and the rivers that once nourished their crops are drying up. The environmental devastation caused by the mining operations has left the community in dire straits.
“The land is not as rich as it was before. The rivers are drying up and we are worried our children will have no water.” Margarita continues. “The government is continuing to evict other communities for mining. Many of our fellow land defenders are being threatened and killed by the government so rich countries can get richer.”
Trócaire and local partner Equipo de Estudios Comunitarios y Acción Psicosocial (ECAP) are providing emotional and psychosocial support to the women of Lote Ocho.
These women are now seeking justice for the crimes committed against them in national and international courts.
The 11 Q'eqchi women from the community of Lote Ocho who suffered serious human rights abuses during an armed eviction from their land in 2007 to make way for a Canadian mining company. Photo: Simone Dalmasso/Trócaire
“We came together as a group of women to seek justice, but as of yet, we have not been heard. We want to let the world know what happened to us indigenous women. We want to avoid this happening again to other women and to the next generation.” Margarita says.
Margarita draws inspiration from the women of Sepur Zarco to seek justice.
During the 36-year-long Guatemalan civil war, the women of Sepur Zarco were raped and enslaved by the Guatemalan military. In 2016, the 15 women survivors fought for justice at the highest court of Guatemala – and won.
“When I was listening to the Sepur Zarco trial, I was very happy the women got justice. But I was sad that these women were elderly and it took them so long. I don’t want to be an old woman when I get justice,” Margarita said.
“Justice would be knowing that what happened to us will never happen again to our children or grandchildren.”
As we mark World Indigenous Peoples Day, Trócaire shares the voices of Indigenous women like Margarita and the women of Lote Ocho. Their stories are a testament to the ongoing fight for justice, dignity, and the right to live on their ancestral lands. Today and every day, we stand in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples, recognising the importance of their right to live in peace and dignity.
