After seven years, the IACHR will visit Guatemala to observe the situation of Human Rights and Judicial Independence – 2024-07-22 22:09:00

Policy

After seven years, the IACHR will visit Guatemala to observe the situation of Human Rights and Judicial Independence

The international delegates plan to be in the country from July 22 to 26 and will hold meetings in Guatemala City and seven other departments.

The IACHR will visit the country to observe the situation of society and vulnerable groups. Photograph: Prensa Libre.

The administration of President Bernardo Arévalo extended an invitation to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), which was accepted. The delegation will be in Guatemala this week to make a series of observations.

The last time the IACHR was in Guatemala was in 2017, the year in which the administration of former President Jimmy Morales did not renew the mandate of the defunct International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG).

This year, the purpose of the visit will be to “observe the impacts of the process of weakening democratic institutions and judicial independence,” the IACHR said in a press release. It also stated that they will observe the human rights situation of vulnerable groups and freedom of expression.

The visiting delegation will be led by the President, Commissioner Roberta Clarke, together with the First Vice President, Carlos Bernal, the Second Vice President, José Luis Caballero; Commissioner Arif Bulkan, and Commissioners Andrea Pochak, Rapporteur for Guatemala and Gloria De Mees, the Executive Secretary.

Also attending will be Tania Reneaum, Deputy Executive Secretary, María Claudia Pulido, the Chief of Staff, Patricia Colchero and specialists from the Executive Secretariat. Also attending will be the Special Rapporteurs for Freedom of Expression, Pedro Vaca, and on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Javier Palummo.

Some meetings will be held in Guatemala City, but delegates also plan meetings with leaders and civil society in the departments of Alta Verapaz, Izabal, Petén, San Marcos, Sololá, Totonicapán and Quetzaltenango.