citizens engagement with the state: experiences from guatemala by walter flores
TRANSCRIPT
Surveying drug availability at a health care facility
Asking medical doctor to sign report on shortage of working hours
Engament with authorities at
municipal, provincial and national level
AudioVisual Evidence
SMS complaints
Derivation of cases to
HHRR bodies
Monitoring resolution of complaints/service improvements
Once critical consciousness is in place (through rights literacy and training), then actions:
Walk to National Parliament Press conference
Meeting with Parlamentarians
Day Month Year Place 5
Alliance with broader social movements
Day Month Year Place 6
Collecting audiovisual evidencePublic exhibits: evidence of right to health violations
Presenting audiovisual evidence to authorities
Press conference informing on collected evidence and demanding action plans to resolve problems
SMS PLATFORM-RIGHT TO HEALTH VIOLATIONS
Year 1985 1991 1994
Human Rights Ombudsman Office
COPREDEH
1999 2002
Public Ministry Special Prosecutor’s office for the Defense of Indigenous Women (DEMI).
Presidential Commission Against Discrimination and Racism of
Indigenous Peoples (CODISRA).
Legal Advice
Accompanying
Counseling and socioeconomic
Criminal Investigation
Representation in court
Public institutions dealing with Human Rights issues
Constant reflection and appraising of strategies and tactics
Lessons learned
• Engaging with the State: flexible, strategic, citizen driven
• Dealing with power and using social movements strategies and tactics are crucial
• Mantaining citizens´ autonomy and legitimacy are major assets
• Challenge: Research taking this complexity on board instead of attempting to break-down actions/interventions to suit causality claims.
