Domingo Francisco Cristobal is a land, environmental and indigenous rights defender from Santa Eulalia, Huehuetenango. The defender is the President of the organisation Pro Justicia in Santa Eulalia, in addition to being a member of the Comité de Desarrollo Campesino - CODECA (Committee for the Development of Farmers), an advisor to the Committee for the Protection of the Environment of the Consejo Comunitario de Desarrollo - COCODE (Community Council for Development), a member of the Council of Peoples WUXHTAJ and a member of the traditional governing body of the Jolom Konob' Maya people.
Human rights defenders (HRDs) in Guatemala are subjected to death threats, physical attacks, acts of harassment, surveillance, stigmatisation, judicial harassment, arbitrary detention, forced disappearance and killings. Many of the violations are carried out by clandestine security structures and illegal groups. The exceptionally high level of impunity enjoyed by the perpetrators increases the risk exponentially for HRDs.
