Mayan Weavers Movement tries to protect creations

By Jáuregui & Asociados

The Feminine Association for the Development of Sacatepéquez (Afedes, for its name in Spanish), is a group of women producers from the Sacatepéquez department (located in Southern Guatemala), which opened the way for a reform of laws and the Penal Code in order to intensify IP protection of textiles creations in the country.

From an Afedes proposal, 25 groups of women weavers decided to form the Mayan Weavers Movement in Guatemala, which reunited in its first assembly in November with the goal of raising national awareness that all textiles creations are works of art and deserve to be protected as such.

"Our first assembly was made to trace routes that help to protect and valorize our creations against robbery, counterfeiting and piracy, both by companies and individuals", a statement said.

The weavers are looking for a reform of the Copyright and Related Rights Law, the Industrial Property Law, the Craft Protection and Development Law and the Penal Code. If approved, indigenous peoples will record their collective creations according to their forms of organization and will be governed by their own institutions, norms, principles and customs.