The rights of the Maya people of southern Belize are not fully secured. They are hard-won, actively defended, and continuously advanced through sustained advocacy at the national and international levels.
We share this not only to inform, but to invite solidarity. The struggle for indigenous rights is a struggle for justice — and justice requires witnesses.
From the National Assembly to government ministries — Maya voices are present wherever decisions are being made.
From the halls of the National Assembly to the offices of government ministries, the Maya organisations of southern Belize are consistently engaged in national policy dialogue on issues that affect their communities — land rights implementation, environmental regulation, education policy, and more.
This page tracks key national developments, government engagements, legislative updates, and advocacy milestones relevant to Maya communities in Belize.
Pending Staff Update
Updates on the ongoing dialogue between Maya organisations and the Government of Belize regarding implementation of the 2015 Caribbean Court of Justice ruling on Maya land rights.
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Pending Staff Update
Tracking legislative proposals and policy shifts that affect the rights, governance, and territories of Maya communities across the Toledo and Stann Creek Districts.
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Pending Staff Update
How national environmental policies intersect with Maya land management practices and community conservation efforts in southern Belize.
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Maya rights affirmed not only in national courts, but in international bodies — from the Caribbean Court of Justice to the UN.
The rights of the Maya people of southern Belize have been affirmed not only in national courts, but in international bodies — including the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the Caribbean Court of Justice. Maintaining an international advocacy presence is essential to holding governments accountable and connecting the Maya struggle to the broader global movement for indigenous rights.
Pending Staff Update
Monitoring the Government of Belize's compliance with the landmark 2015 CCJ ruling that affirmed Maya customary land tenure and ordered legislative protections.
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Pending Staff Update
Maya representation and submissions to the UN Permanent Forum, advancing recognition of indigenous land rights within the broader international framework.
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Pending Staff Update
Continued engagement with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and solidarity actions connecting Maya rights to the global indigenous rights movement.
Read moreA summary of the legal and advocacy milestones that have shaped Maya land rights in Belize.
The late Julian Cho emerges as a central advocate for Maya land rights, galvanising community organising in the Toledo District and laying the groundwork for formal legal action.
The Maya communities of Toledo bring their case before the Inter-American Commission, arguing that the Government of Belize failed to protect their ancestral lands from logging concessions granted without consent.
The Supreme Court of Belize rules in favour of the Maya claimants, affirming the existence of Maya customary land tenure and ordering the government to recognise and protect these rights.
The Belize Court of Appeal affirms the Supreme Court's decision, strengthening the legal foundation for Maya customary land rights recognition.
The CCJ delivers a historic ruling affirming Maya customary land tenure and ordering the Government of Belize to demarcate, protect, and legislate recognition of Maya lands — a watershed moment for indigenous rights in the Caribbean.
Maya organisations continue to advocate for full implementation of the CCJ ruling, engage with government agencies, and maintain an international presence to hold Belize accountable to its obligations.
The highest appellate court for Belize, where the landmark 2015 ruling on Maya land rights was delivered.
A high-level advisory body to the UN Economic and Social Council addressing indigenous peoples' rights worldwide.
A regional human rights body where the Maya of Toledo first brought international attention to their land rights violations.
The legislative body where Maya organisations advocate for policy reform, indigenous rights legislation, and land protections.