Editor´s Note

Dear reading community of ENTREMUNDOS! In this paragraph of the 130th edition of our magazine, I greet you for the first time. I am the current editor of the magazine and I am delighted to know that there are people like you out there who value equality, justice and freedom. We believe that reading is a fundamental tool for personal and professional development. Through various articles, we want to promote reading in our community. Welcome to these pages and words that will lead us to reflect, discuss and act in order to have a full life.

In this edition of the magazine, we address the current electoral issues. After all, the 25th of June of this year is an important day on which we will decide the destiny of our country.

Guatemala seeks its destiny

Our writers talk about the suitability of the participants of the elections, political violence against women, the role of civil society and international organizations as observers of the electoral process, acts of oppression of freedom of the press, and the role of indigenous women in politics.

In addition, the following pages have no shortage of topics related to the defense of natural resources, the well-being of women, sexual diversity and reports on community tourism. Democracy in crisis. In today’s world, democracy seems to be in crisis. This issue worries many citizens, activists and politicians. Democracy, which can be defined as a political system that allows citizens to choose their leaders, guarantees freedom of expression, and protects human rights, appears to be failing. Through different articles, this edition demonstrates that there is a crisis in Guatemala and that the implications for the future of our democracy are uncertain. One of the main causes of this crisis of our democracy is economic inequality and political polarization. In many countries, the gap between rich and poor has increased, leading to a lack of trust in institutions. It appears that the country has adopted authoritarian policies restricting freedom of the press and expression. This has led to an increase of violence and criminalization that has weakened citizens’ ability to express their opinions freely.

Civil society has played an important role in promoting transparency and accountability in the political process, protecting citizens from violence and repression, and ensuring the protection of their rights and freedoms. According to the electoral roll of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, it’s mostly women and young people who have the power to choose. For every 100 registered men, there are 117 registered women. 15% of the voters are between 18 and 25 years old, while 13% are between 26 and 30 years old, and 13% are between 30 and 35 years old. The percentage declines as age increases. For this electoral process there is a budget of more than 100 million quetzales, of which 19 million quetzales are designated for overseas votes.

For this reason, it is important that we make good decisions to strengthen democracy and protect the rights and freedoms that are fundamental to our society. We should all inform ourselves to choose the “best” option for our country.

We would love to hear from you. Please email your questions and comments to: revista@entremundos.org

EntrEMundos is a GuatEMalan rEGistErEd non-profit dEdicatEd to thE strEnGthEninG of local non-GovErnMEntorGanizations and coMMunity Groups. this is achiEvEd throuGh thE voluntEErinG proGraM, capacity BuildinG proGraM and raisinG awarEnEss aBout dEvElopMEnt issuEs throuGh our MaGazinE. EntrEMundos is not rEsponsiBlE for thE viEws and opinions ExprEssEd in this MaGazinE. rEsponsiBility for thE contEnt of all thE articlEs is solEly that of thE individual author. EntrEMundos MaGazinE only acts as an intErMEdiary proMotinG thE frEEdoM of thE prEss. revista.entremundos.org

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Cover story

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Community tourism

Freedom of expression

Cover

Women

FOUNDED IN 2001

6a Calle 7-31, Zona 1 Quetzaltenango, Guatemala mail@entremundos.org

(502) 7761-2179

Editor: Emma Gómez

Director: Yessica Pastor

General Assistant: María Recinos

Capacity Building Program and Projects Coordinator: Lourdes Aguilar

Accountant: Aldy Cajas

Lay Out: Emma Gómez

Cover: Rosendo Castillo

Volunteers: Carol Ixtabalán, Jason Klarl, Enrique Baurista and Izela de León.

Translators: Thomas Lang, Marsie Wunder, Thomas Lang, Emma Porter, Maya Greenberg, David Hörhager and Katlijne Van.

Writers: María Longo, José Cancinos, Thelma Suchi, Edie Cux, Silvia Trujillo, Lourdes Aguilar and Valeria Leiva. Colaborators: Filóchofo.

This magazine couldn’t have been possible without all of you. Thank you very much all!

EntreMundos magazine is printed by: Imprenta y Litografia Creaciones Impresas