Jesús Tecú Osorio
Encyclopedia
Jesús Tecú Osorio is a Guatemala
n social activist, worker for human rights
, and advocate for the Achi Maya
.
In 1982, much of the population of Río Negro was murdered; Tecú survived, but witnessed the deaths of most of his immediate family members. He spent two years as a household slave
to one of the perpetrators before being remanded into the custody of his older sister, who had also survived the massacres.
In 1993, Tecú began legal proceedings to have the mass grave
of Río Negro exhumed; this led directly to the prosecution of three of the men responsible for the massacre and, in 1998, to their being sentenced to death for crimes against humanity (in 1999, their sentences were commuted to 60 years in prison). As of 2006, this is the only Guatemalan trial for crimes against humanity committed during the civil war for which the perpetrators have been convicted.
Tecú has organized four separate charitable organizations, including a legal aid
clinic, for the Achi Maya people. He has written his memoirs – these have been translated into English as The Massacres of Rio Negro – and gone on speaking tours throughout Europe and the USA.
In 1996, Tecú won the Reebok Human Rights Award
; he used the USD 25,000 prize money to build a school in the town of Rabinal
. In 2007, he was awarded an honorary law degree from Saint Francis Xavier University http://www.stfx.ca/news/index.php/2007/11/23/man-of-peace-and-artist-philanthropist-honoured-at-fall-convocation/.
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
n social activist, worker for human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
, and advocate for the Achi Maya
Maya peoples
The Maya people constitute a diverse range of the Native American people of southern Mexico and northern Central America. The overarching term "Maya" is a collective designation to include the peoples of the region who share some degree of cultural and linguistic heritage; however, the term...
.
In 1982, much of the population of Río Negro was murdered; Tecú survived, but witnessed the deaths of most of his immediate family members. He spent two years as a household slave
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
to one of the perpetrators before being remanded into the custody of his older sister, who had also survived the massacres.
In 1993, Tecú began legal proceedings to have the mass grave
Mass grave
A mass grave is a grave containing multiple number of human corpses, which may or may not be identified prior to burial. There is no strict definition of the minimum number of bodies required to constitute a mass grave, although the United Nations defines a mass grave as a burial site which...
of Río Negro exhumed; this led directly to the prosecution of three of the men responsible for the massacre and, in 1998, to their being sentenced to death for crimes against humanity (in 1999, their sentences were commuted to 60 years in prison). As of 2006, this is the only Guatemalan trial for crimes against humanity committed during the civil war for which the perpetrators have been convicted.
Tecú has organized four separate charitable organizations, including a legal aid
Legal aid
Legal aid is the provision of assistance to people otherwise unable to afford legal representation and access to the court system. Legal aid is regarded as central in providing access to justice by ensuring equality before the law, the right to counsel and the right to a fair trial.A number of...
clinic, for the Achi Maya people. He has written his memoirs – these have been translated into English as The Massacres of Rio Negro – and gone on speaking tours throughout Europe and the USA.
In 1996, Tecú won the Reebok Human Rights Award
Reebok Human Rights Award
The Reebok Human Rights Award honours activists under the age of 30 who fight for human rights through non-violent means. Each year, the award is given to four or five individuals. Each receives a grant of US$50,000 that must be used to support their human rights work. The awards are underwritten...
; he used the USD 25,000 prize money to build a school in the town of Rabinal
Rabinal
Rabinal is a small town located in the Guatemalan department of Baja Verapaz, at . It serves as the administrative seat for the surrounding municipality of the same name. The municipality covers 504 km² and, in 2004, had a population of around 36,000...
. In 2007, he was awarded an honorary law degree from Saint Francis Xavier University http://www.stfx.ca/news/index.php/2007/11/23/man-of-peace-and-artist-philanthropist-honoured-at-fall-convocation/.