IACHR rejects arrest of lawyer Ramón Cadena and criminalization of San Carlos University community in Guatemala

November 21, 2025

Washington DC—The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) rejects the arrest in Guatemala of lawyer and human rights defender Ramón Cadena—a beneficiary of precautionary measures granted by the IACHR in 2016—and the persistent criminalization of students and academic staff at San Carlos de Guatemala University (USAC).

On November 10, 2025, Cadena was placed in pretrial detention after voluntarily appearing before the Tenth Criminal Trial Court in compliance with an arrest warrant that had been issued against him in 2023. He has been charged with sedition, criminal conspiracy, and destruction of cultural property in the framework of an investigation called “USAC occupation: Political plunder.” Cadena was reportedly arrested in retaliation for his work to defend and advise USAC students and academic staff.

The IACHR has documented that this case involves a criminalization of students, professors, workers, and human rights defenders who took part in student demonstrations and peaceful protests over the period May 19, 2022–June 9, 2023. The USAC community denounced irregularities in proceedings to elect a new rector, alleging that such irregularities sought to coopt the university and to ensure outside influence in committees to elect various university authorities.

In 2023, arrest warrants were issued against 27 people linked to student movements and the political party Semilla. At least two students are still in pretrial detention, while two others have been forced to go into exile for fear of being arrested or persecuted. Up to 41 student disciplinary proceedings were launched for serious offenses, 11 students were expelled, and others continued to face administrative restrictions, suspensions, and other hurdles that prevented them from being able to pursue their studies further.

These events happened in the context of a persistent abuse of criminal law to silence critics and weaken the rule of law in Guatemala. In particular, the IACHR is concerned about persistent patterns that were clearly identified by the IACHR itself during the on-site visit to Guatemala it conducted in 2024. A report based on that visit is set to be published in the coming weeks, identifying worrying patterns including the use of disproportionate crime categories, abuse of pretrial detention, unwarranted delays, alleged violations of due process guarantees, and the lack of independence and impartiality of the judge of competent jurisdiction in this case.

The IACHR reminds the State of its obligation to prevent State agents or third parties from abusing the punitive power of the State and its judicial institutions to harass human rights defenders. The IACHR further notes the fear that criminalization instils in defenders, some of whom halt their defense of human rights for fear of retaliation.

Based on the Inter-American Principles on Academic Freedom and University Autonomy, using criminal law to punish individuals for exercising their academic freedom is incompatible with the guarantees held in the inter-American human rights system.

The IACHR therefore urges the State of Guatemala to end the unwarranted criminal persecution of students, academics, and human rights defenders, as well as the abuse of pretrial detention. The IACHR further urges the State to fully comply with the precautionary measures granted in favor of Ramón Cadena to protect his life and personal integrity.

The IACHR is an autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS) whose mandate is based on the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. Its mission is to promote and defend human rights throughout the Americas and to serve as an advisory body to the OAS in this area. The IACHR consists of seven independent members elected by the OAS General Assembly who serve in a personal capacity and do not represent their countries of origin or residence.

No. 239/25

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