US sanctions on two Guatemalan politicians — one a political operator and the other an influential legislator — are the latest salvo by Washington to show it is serious about taking on corruption in Central America. Alex Papadovassilakis writes in… Read More ›
Lobbying
Guatemala’s Justice System Is At A Breaking Point
Gloria Porras recently wrote an Opinion piece in Americas Quarterly on the challenges she has faced as a Magistrate in Guatemala’s Constitutional Court, and continues to face following the Guatemala Congress rejection of her election to the current bench. Anyone… Read More ›
Composition of New Guatemalan Constitutional Court
Peace Brigades International recently posted about the composition if the new Constitutional Court in Guatemala – here is a summary. On March 10, 2021, appointments to the Constitutional Court were complete. Five titular, or permanent, judges and five alternate judges… Read More ›
Guatemalan Congress refuses to appoint graft-fighting top judge
“We are deeply concerned by today’s maneuver to delay the swearing in of a selected constitutional court magistrate. This undermines Guatemala’s commitment to an independent judiciary and addressing systemic corruption,” Acting Assistant Secretary for U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of… Read More ›
A Final Blow to Guatemala’s Justice System
It is crucial that in the coming years, new coalitions coalesce between businesses, civil society, Indigenous peoples, and international allies, to promote a democratization of the country. Otherwise, the only path forward will be the one that leads to authoritarianism…. Read More ›
US and Canadian Organizations Alarmed Over Illegal Mining
A blog post on MiningWatch Canada links to a letter sent to the CEO of Goldex Resources about illegal mining in Guatemala. Seven organizations, including MiningWatch Canada, sent a letter to the President & CEO and Director of Goldex Resources… Read More ›
World Water Day – It Is Time To Free Bernardo Caal Xol
Yesterday, 22nd March, was World Water Day, and we wanted to bring attention to the case of Bernardo Caal Xol, who has been unjustly detained for three years now. Since 2015, Bernardo Caal has defended the rights of the communities… Read More ›
A Guatemalan Judge under Siege
Elsa Coronado has written, in Plaza Pública, about the challenges facing Judge Erika Aifán in her work against corruption. An English version, translated by Max Granger, appears in the El Faro English site. Judge Erika Aifán may not be as… Read More ›
Very High Stakes – Elections to the Constitutional Court
By the 23rd March, the five individuals who will serve the next 5-year term on the Guatemala Constitutional Court must be named in order to be sworn in and to take office on the 14th April. This is the date… Read More ›
Civil Society demands judicial investigation of members of the Supreme Court
More than 40 organisations and social platforms demand of the Attorney General, María Consuelo Porras, that she applies for the withdrawal of immunity of Néster Vásquez, and the other magistrates of the Supreme Court, implicated in the ‘Parallel Commissions 2020’… Read More ›
