Guatemalan human rights activist shot to death, 21st in 2018

GUATEMALA CITY – Authorities in Guatemala say another indigenous rights activist has been killed in the Central American nation.

Human rights prosecutor Jordan Rodas said Sunday that Juana Ramirez Santiago was shot to death Friday. She is the 21st human rights activist to be slain this year in Guatemala.

Rodas is calling for a full investigation into the killing and for greater government protection for activists.

The 54-year-old Ramirez was also a midwife. She was a member of the Ixiles Womens Network, which provides psychological counselling, social help and birthing assistance to women in rural areas of Guatemala.