Guatemalanetz Bern

Sobre nosotros

The Guatemalanetwork Bern, founded in 1992, promotes solidarity with people in Guatemala. Through continuous public relations and lobbying work, the population in Switzerland is to be sensitized to current issues in Guatemala. Since 2010, the focus of the work of the Guatemala network has been on natural resources and human rights.
The Guatemalan Network Bern is organized as an association and has around 100 members.

Our work:
• Public relations and lobbying work: The Guatemalanetwork Bern carries out continuous public relations and lobbying work with the aim of making Swiss politics and business aware of the worrying human rights situation in Guatemala. When visiting Guatemalan human rights defenders, the Guatemalanetwork Bern coordinates press conferences and meetings with representatives of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), parliamentarians and other NGOs. Since 2013, this public relations and lobbying work has mostly been carried out within the framework of the Foro Suizo para los derechos humanos y la paz en Guatemala, which the Guatemalanetwork Bern co-founded.
• Raising awareness through events: The Guatemalanetwork Bern regularly organizes events in the form of lectures, film evenings, round tables, stand campaigns, concerts and exhibitions. When representatives of grassroots organizations from Guatemala are in Switzerland, the Guatemala network offers them space to present their work and goals and to report on the challenges that a commitment to peace and justice in Guatemala brings with it. Study trips to Guatemala are also organized by the network at irregular intervals. Since 2010, the focus of the work of the Guatemala network has been on natural resources and human rights.
• Advocacy, lobbying and networking: Cooperation with other civil society actors is essential for a small association like the Guatemalanetz Bern. We are active in various networks and carry out both awareness-raising and advocacy work, mostly together with partner organizations.

Flurina Doppler is the coordinator of Guatemalanetz Bern.

On request we can offer other net participants advice, give a presentation, and provide up-to-date information and contacts in the field of our work.