IACHR Announces On-Site Visit to Guatemala

July 10, 2024

Washington, D.C. — The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) will conduct an on-site visit to Guatemala from July 22 to 26 at the invitation of the State.

The purpose of the visit is to observe the effects of the process of weakening democratic institutions and judicial independence in the country since the IACHR's last visit in 2017. Specifically, the IACHR will observe the human rights situation of particularly vulnerable groups using ethnic-racial and gender approaches. It will also observe the status of freedom of expression; citizen security; the rights to memory, truth, and justice; and economic, social, and cultural rights in Guatemala.

The delegation will be led by the President of the IACHR, Commissioner Roberta Clarke, who will be accompanied by the First Vice-President, Carlos Bernal; the Second Vice-President, José Luis Caballero; and Commissioners Arif Bulkan, Andrea Pochak, Rapporteur for Guatemala, and Gloria De Mees; as well as the Executive Secretary, Tania Reneaum; the Deputy Executive Secretary, María Claudia Pulido; the Chief of Staff, Patricia Colchero; and specialists from the Executive Secretariat. The delegation will also include the Special Rapporteurs on Freedom of Expression, Pedro Vaca, and on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, Javier Palummo.

The IACHR will visit Guatemala City and the departments of Alta Verapaz, Izabal, Petén, San Marcos, Sololá, Totonicapán, and Quetzaltenango. It will meet with representatives of the various branches of government, activists, human rights defenders and justice operators, civil society organizations, victims of human rights violations, academics, and representatives of trade unions and business associations.

To set up a meeting with a civil society organization, please register by Monday, July 15 using this form.

The IACHR will provide information on how to participate in the hearings to be held during its visit in due course. Please email any relevant information you would like to submit to CIDHDenuncias@oas.org, including the words "IACHR Visit to Guatemala 2024" in the subject line. Any additional requests regarding cases being processed before the Inter-American System or precautionary measures should be sent through the IACHR portal for this process.

The IACHR will present its preliminary observations at a press conference for journalists and the media on Friday, July 26, at the end of the visit. The time and location of this event will be announced shortly.

The IACHR thanks the State of Guatemala for its invitation and willingness to carry out this visit, as well as for the logistical assistance it will provide.

The IACHR is a principal and autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS), whose mandate stems from the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The Inter-American Commission has the mandate to promote the observance and defense of human rights in the region and acts as an advisory body to the OAS on the matter. The IACHR is made up of seven independent members who are elected by the OAS General Assembly in their personal capacity, and do not represent their countries of origin or residence.

* The press release was updated on July 12, 2024.

No. 161/24

3:30 PM