Call on Congress to Support Human Rights Defenders in Guatemala

May 3, 2007

UPDATE: The Senate resolution calling for the establishment of an international commission to investigate and help prosecute illegal armed groups in Guatemala was passed. It was co-sponsored by the Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

In Guatemala, 98 percent of the nearly 300 annual attacks against human rights defenders are reportedly never investigated. Only a handful of cases have resulted in convictions.  This week, you have an opportunity to support human rights defenders and help stop the attacks.

Last year we asked you to call on the Guatemalan Congress to approve an innovative international commission. The commission would investigate and assist in prosecuting the illegal armed groups that are frequently responsible for attacks against defenders.

We have met with Senators in the U.S. Congress and they are now circulating a resolution calling on the Guatemalan government to approve the Commission.

If you are located in the United States, please ask your Senator to co-sponsor or support the resolution.

Background:

On December 12, 2006, the United Nations and the Guatemalan government signed an agreement to establish an independent International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG). The mandate of CICIG would be to investigate and promote the prosecution of illegal armed groups. These powerful clandestine security groups are allegedly responsible for frequent attacks against human rights defenders, as well as involved in corruption, organized crime, drug trafficking and political violence.

In February 2007, three Salvadoran parliamentarians and their driver were assassinated by senior members of the Guatemalan National Civilian Police, including the head of the organized crime unit. Four of those police officers were themselves subsequently killed while in a high security Guatemalan jail. The incident has demonstrated the extent to which illegal armed groups have infiltrated high levels of state institutions in Guatemala. It has also shown the pressing need for the international community, via CICIG, to assist the Guatemalan government in investigating and promoting the prosecution of illegal armed groups.
CICIG has the potential to:

• uncover the full extent of the illegal armed groups;
• dismantle their underlying structure;
• prosecute high-profile individuals responsible for crimes and attacks on human rights defenders; and
• prevent future attacks on human rights defenders by putting an end to the culture of impunity that encourages such attacks.

However, the Guatemalan Congress must ratify the agreement before CICIG is established. The Senate Resolution sends a powerful message to the Guatemalan Congress that the United States supports CICIG and human rights defenders in Guatemala.

Additional Information:

Senate Resolution 155, click here.

Situation of Human Rights Defenders in Guatemala, click here.

Recent attacks against human rights defenders and the need for CICIG, click here.

Previous DAN, click here.

Recent UN Report by the Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Executions calling for the establishment of CICIG, click here.

Sample Letter:

Dear Senator,

I would like to urge you, as my elected representative, to co-sponsor or support Senate Resolution 155 relating to the establishment of an International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG).

On December 12, 2006, the United Nations and the Guatemalan government signed an agreement to establish CICIG, which would investigate and promote the prosecution of illegal armed groups. These powerful clandestine security groups are allegedly responsible for frequent attacks against human rights defenders, as well as involved in corruption, organized crime, drug trafficking and political violence.
The Resolution supports CICIG as an innovative way to reduce violence in Guatemala and to strengthen the rule of law. Specifically, the Resolution encourages:

• the Guatemalan Congress to enact necessary legislation to implement the CICIG agreement; and
• the Guatemalan government and all sectors of Guatemalan society to unreservedly support the investigation and prosecution of illegal armed groups.

By co-sponsoring or supporting Senate Resolution 155 you can help to protect Guatemalan human rights defenders as they contribute to consolidating democracy and the rule of law in Guatemala.

Senate Resolution 155 was introduced by Senator Christopher Dodd. For more information on the resolution or to become a co-sponsor, please contact Janice O’Connell at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at janice_o'connell@foreign.senate.gov or 4-7994.