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The Embassy of Guatemala in Geneva |
Contact
Address
Permanent Mission of Guatemala to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva
Avenue de France 23
1202 Geneva
Phone Number
+41 22 733 08 50
Fax Number
+41 22 733 14 29
Email
onusuiza@minex.gob.gt
The Ambassador
Amb. José Francisco Calí Tzay
H.E. Mr. José Francisco Calí Tzay is a landmark figure in international human rights law and multilateral diplomacy, representing the Maya Kaqchikel indigenous people of Guatemala. He assumed his role as Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva bringing decades of specialized experience in defending minority rights and combating racial discrimination. Ambassador Calí Tzay has held several historic positions at the global level. He served as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, a role in which he investigated and reported on global human rights standards. Prior to that, he was a member and President of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD)—becoming the first indigenous person to be elected to a UN treaty body. Within Guatemala's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, his career has focused on human rights policy, indigenous affairs, and international legal disputes, making him a highly respected legal authority in International Geneva.
History
Guatemala’s diplomatic engagement with the United Nations in Geneva is deeply intertwined with its national history of peacebuilding, transitional justice, and socio-economic development following the conclusion of its internal armed conflict in 1996. Accordingly, the Permanent Mission in Geneva serves as a critical platform for Guatemala’s interaction with the UN Human Rights Council and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The mission's operational focus is heavily centered on advancing indigenous rights, protecting human rights defenders, and fostering economic inclusion. Through its work with the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), the mission consistently champions sustainable agricultural trade, labor standards, and international cooperation programs designed to reduce poverty and strengthen democratic institutions in Central America.
