Join the Guatemala Accompaniment Project
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Statement of Purpose

Statement of Purpose

1. To provide, when requested, international human rights accompaniers for Guatemalan communities, individuals, and grassroots organizations that work nonviolently to achieve social justice, respect for human rights, and peace;

2. To support strong, continuing relationships between U.S. sponsoring communities and Guatemalan organizations and communities.

The purposes of accompaniment are to provide a measure of security to those accompanied and create space for Guatemalan communities and organizations to organize in defense of their rights. The essential elements needed for successful accompaniment include: dissuasive physical presence, education, advocacy, and an emergency response network. G.A.P. recognizes that the advancement of socioeconomic justice and respect for human rights in the long term requires that community-to-community relationships be strong, be nurtured, and allow for continuous growth.

Guiding Principles

1. G.A.P. is a project of the Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala (NISGUA). It is independent of the U.S. government as well as any Guatemalan or U.S. political or religious entity.

2. G.A.P. coordinates accompaniment for genocide case witnesses, as well as Guatemalan groups and organizations that work for justice.

3. G.A.P. facilitates understanding of the genocide case effort and the work of other organizations we accompany for U.S. communities interested in providing accompaniment.

4. G.A.P. staff also serves as a resource in facilitating long-term, committed relationships in which U.S. and Guatemalan communities and civil society efforts can learn from each other and their respective experiences while building positive social and economic relationships.

5. NISGUA serves as a consultant for fundraising and organizing efforts of U.S. Sponsoring Communities. NISGUA currently provides funding for half an accompaniment position, though we are actively searching for a Sponsoring Community to take on that responsibility.

6. In the U.S., NISGUA works in conjunction with other organizations to promote education and public information about Guatemala, advocacy, delegation visits, emergency response and recruitment for physical accompaniment. In Guatemala, G.A.P. coordinates with other accompaniment organizations to prevent duplication of services and ensure that coverage is as complete as possible.

7. G.A.P. does not facilitate individual or group visits of fewer than six months, except in crisis situations. (Sponsoring Communities may organize short-term delegations as part of their relationship strengthening with returned refugee/displaced communities.)

8. In cases of urgent necessity (e.g., military incursion) G.A.P. may attempt to provide short-term (fewer than six months) “emergency accompaniment” by mobilizing in-country personnel and available persons from the U.S.

9. Although NISGUA is not a material aid organization, individual Sponsoring Communities may respond to requests from their Guatemalan partner community for material aid or financial assistance, in accordance with the G.A.P. Development Guidelines. Such requests must be agreed upon and requested by the Guatemalan community’s designated project committee or the community at large. To prevent divisions, discord, and potential problems, G.A.P. participants will never give money, gifts or material aid to individuals, specific families or any community or organization.