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Legislative Protection of Mayan Textiles in Guatemala
In 2011, Efrain Asij, President of Guatemala's Commission for Culture, proposed legislative changes in favor of protecting textiles produced by indigenous communities. He touted the textiles' economic value to the women of these Mayan communities, as well as the cultural heritage represented in these designs. Asij stated that traditional woven Mayan designs are in danger of losing their cultural significance and economic value because of piracy and counterfeit production of Mayan garments. He calls for the creation of schools designed to create the next generation of Guatemalan weavers, in order to ensure that this ancient and sacred art continues to be valued. .He also proposes that a study be conducted that would track sales of Mayan garments, specifically to locate problems of exploitation of their designs and how these designs are sold. Asij also proposed that Mayan communities be allowed to import their manufacturing equipment tax-free. Mayan communities could also purchase advertising, and export their textiles from Guatemala tax-free as well. All Departments of Guatemala's government are expected to promote and participate in the protection of traditional Mayan textile production.

In 2016, legislative changes were presented to Guatemala's national government by the National Movement of Maya Weavers, a coalition of weavers from all over Guatemala. 30 Weaving Co-Operatives from 18 linguistic communities in Guatemala are supporting the movement which is led by the Women’s Association for Development of Sacatepequez, known in its Spanish acronym as AFEDES. They argue that corporations have been exploiting their culture by mass producing their designs which ultimately devalues and degrades their sacredness, and they are calling for revamped legislative protection that grants each Mayan community collective intellectual ownership of their traditional designs.