In December, two-thirds of Congress approved an anti-monopoly law proposed by legislators aligned with President Bernardo Arévalo, marking a significant improvement of their negotiating power in the legislature while sparking debate over whether the new rules will in fact curb… Read More ›
Lobbying
Marching With the President and VP-elects for Democracy and a New Direction for Guatemala
Rights Action have posted a short photo essay from the Dec. 7th march through the streets of Guatemala City in support of democracy and against the ‘Pacto de Corruptos’. On December 7, thousands of Guatemalans – Indigenous and ladino –… Read More ›
Without Authority or Proof, Guatemalan AG Asserts Arévalo’s Election is “Null”
One month before the transfer of power, prosecutors claim to have evidence of fraud —they have yet to show any— and say the election of Bernardo Arévalo should be declared void. In response, the U.S. sanctioned over 300 people on… Read More ›
One Month Remains for Guatemala to Preserve Its Democracy
Álvaro Montenegro writes in El Faro English on the continued attempts by the corrupt to avoid the swearing in of Bernardo Arévalo and Karin Herrera as the next President and Vice-President. The countdown continues until January 14th next. In what… Read More ›
“We are not trespassers: this is our land”: Agrarian Conflict & Indigenous Peoples’ Rights in Alta Verapaz
Peace Brigades International UK (PBI-UK) recently held a launch of a report drawn up by a group of international human rights lawyers who travelled to Alta Verapaz earlier this year on a fact-finding mission. They went there to to meet… Read More ›
If the Election Deniers Succeed, Guatemala Will Have Lost the Battle for Democracy
Anita Isaacs, Rachel A. Schwartz and Álvaro Montenegro have written an Opinion piece in The New York Times on the battle for democracy that faces Guatemala in the wake of the recent Presidential election. Guatemala’s democracy is under assault. Over… Read More ›
Pre- and Post-Election Machinations in Guatemala
Despite widespread attempts to manipulate the electoral system in favour of candidates alligned to agents of corruption (Los Corruptos), the Guatemala Presidential election threw up a major surprise. The two frontrunners turned out to be Sandra Torres, a former First-Lady… Read More ›
International legal experts gravely concerned at lack of protections for Indigenous peoples and human rights defenders in Guatemala
Peace Brigades International UK (PBI-UK) accompanied a group of international lawyers to Guatemala concerned at UN and civil society reports regarding human rights violations associated with agrarian conflict in Alta Verapaz. The International Delegation of Independent Lawyers travelled to Alta… Read More ›
PBI – Becoming A ‘Brigadista’
The Peace Brigades International (PBI) Guatemala Project is made up of volunteers, from many countries, who have gone through a long and detailed training which covers the situation in Guatemala as well as the work of international accompaniment that PBI… Read More ›
Guatemala’s Attorney General Elections: Judicial Independence and Democracy at a Crossroads
Ana María Méndez Dardón and Julia Aikman Cifuentes write in WOLA on the challenges facing an independent judiciary and the consequences for Guatemala’s commitment to fighting impunity when these are essential components of a democratic state. The persecution of independent… Read More ›
Guatemala Solidarity Network 