Church leaders in Guatemala have played a significant role in the struggle to thwart controversial plans by a European energy giant, defending the widely ignored rights of the indigenous community, writes Tobias Roberts, on assignment with Mennonite Central Committee from North America. ENEL is the largest utility in Italy and the second largest in Europe, with revenues of more than US$100 billion in 2010.

Amnesty International has urged the Guatemalan authorities to act to stop the high numbers of women being killed across the country.

Amnesty International has strongly condemned the failure of the Guatemalan authorities to investigate thoroughly the extra-judicial killings in which police officers have been implicated.

Having gained its independence from a colonial Spanish government in 1821, Guatemala experienced many years of political instability that included a variety of military and civilian governments and a 36-year guerrilla war. You can sponsor a child in Guatemala here.