In Guatemala high-stakes elections continue to be the battleground for forces of progress and forces against it. Elections for University of San Carlos rector are taking place in a climate of fear and intimidation, leading the Organization of American States… Read More ›
Impunity
Guatemalan Gangs Step Into Politics and Drug Trafficking
Guatemala’s two major gangs appear to be evolving in different directions: The notorious 18th Street has waded into politics; the government suggests it is being politicized to stoke chaos. Meanwhile, in a series of strategic moves, MS-13 has wrested the… Read More ›
Statement from AJR: Victims of the Ixil Genocide Seek Justice Before the IACHR After 23 Years of Delay
Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala (NISGUA) presented a translation of a press release on behalf of The Association for Justice and Reconciliation (AJR), The Human Rights Office of the Archdiocese of Guatemala (ODHAG), and the Institute of… Read More ›
In Arévalo’s Guatemala, It’s Not “Spring” Quite Yet
José Enrique Arrioja writes in Americas Quarterly about the continuing challenges facing President Arévalo in the face of gang violence, institutional corruption and high disapproval rates. From the moment he took office, President Bernardo Arévalo raised expectations with his talk… Read More ›
In Guatemala’s Western Highlands, There’s Life After Deportation
Carlos Barrera presents a piece of photo-reportage on El Faro English highlighting challenges of emigrating to the US from Quetzaltenango (Xela) and subsequent deportation and re-integrating back into Guatemala, sometimes after many years of being away. The piece highlights the… Read More ›
Guatemala at a New Institutional Crossroads: Local Elections and the Future of the Justice System
Guatemala Human Rights Commission (GHRC) recently posted a report by Juan Francisco Sandoval, former head of the Special Office Against Impunity in Guatemala, now in exile. The report explains the critical moment Guatemala is entering. President Arévalo will receive a… Read More ›
Forum: La Puya’s Victory and the Challenges of International Arbitration
Recently, the Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala (NISGUA) posted a piece on a discussion forum, of which they were part, to share insights and discuss how international investment treaties allow transnational corporations to sue governments within the… Read More ›
No Defenders, No Climate Justice
Our friends in Peace Brigades International UK (PBI-UK) have released a short film on their work with Human Rights Defenders, and Environmental Defenders. Think about what it takes to keep a forest standing. Not the satellite imagery or the international… Read More ›
Jose Ruben Zamora: “We Need to Refound Guatemala”
“People have confidence in journalism. With my work I have wanted to honor journalists who gave their lives for a free society.” An interview with José Rubén Zamora was carried out by Carlos F. Chamorro of Confidencial and was translated… Read More ›
Consuelo Porras Signed Irregular Adoptions of Children from Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras
Roman Gressier writes in El Faro English on the allegations of historical illegal adoptions and the alleged role of a high-ranking official in Guatemala, namely the current Attorney General, Consuelo Porras. It appears that a record of the position in… Read More ›