Latest News

Demand Investigation into Killing of Indigenous Guatemalan Lawyer Fausto Otzín

Take action now to urge Guatemalan authorities to investigate and prosecute those responsible for killing Fausto Otzín, a celebrated indigenous rights activist. 11/19/2009

HRF addresses Forum on Criminalization of Defenders in Guatemala

Human Rights Defenders Program Manager, Andrew Hudson, gave the keynote address to an international forum on criminalization of human rights defenders in Guatemala - drawing on HRF's successes in combating this problem in Colombia.

Read speech

11/11/2009

Charges Against Guatemalan LGBT Activist Dismissed

On September 29, 2009, a Guatemalan judge dismissed all charges against LGBT activist Jorge Lopez. Lopez had been charged with involvement in the assault of a sex worker; a person who he had actively worked to protect. Prosecutors may still appeal, but we are confident that their petition will be denied and recognized as an attempt to discourage López?s human rights advocacy on behalf of the LGBT community.

Letter of thanks to Guatemalan Authorities

Read about Lopez's case

Petition regarding Lopez's Case

10/16/2009

Guatemalan Government Should Investigate Attacks Against Jesus Tecu and Norma Cruz

In a letter sent to Guatemala's Attorney General, Human Rights First and other international organizations call upon him to investigate death threats against leading advocates for transitional justice and women's rights.

Read Letter (in Spanish)

10/6/2009

Groundbreaking Prosecution of Forced Disappearance in Guatemala

For the first time a Guatemalan court has convicted a perpetrator, Felipe Cusanero, for the crime of forced disappearance.

Listen to Senior Associate Andrew Hudson on KPFK Los Angeles Pacifica radio on the significance of this case

Read article in VOA News

Listen to Senior Associate Andrew Hudson on VOA News

9/11/2009

Prevent Guatemalan Publisher from Serving Jail Time

Raul Figueroa Sarti was recently sentenced to one year in prison for allegedly publishing a photo without authorization. Figueroa is a well-known, human rights-focused publisher in Guatemala. His prosecution appears baseless given that the photographer reportedly consented to use of the photo. Urge Guatemala's Attorney General to support Figueroa's appeal against his conviction.

Read HRF Petition in English | in Spanish

8/11/2009

Human Rights and Impunity in Guatemala: Conclusions of HRF Trip

HRF Senior Associate Andrew Hudson took a recent trip to Guatemala to investigate the state of human rights and the situation of human rights defenders there.

Read HRF Press Release in English | in Spanish

Listen to Andrew Hudson's FGER radio interview (in Spanish)

Watch Andrew Hudson on Guatevision TV (in Spanish)

7/28/2009

Press Coverage of HRF Trip to Guatemala

Read article in Prensa Libre (in Spanish)

Read article in El Periodico (in Spanish)

Read article in El Pais (in Spanish)

7/27/2009

HRF Hosts Event on UN Commission in Guatemala

On July 7, 2009, Human Rights First and the International Peace Institute co-hosted a policy forum, Confronting Organized Crime: Learning from the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG).

See photos and summary of event

Read more about CICIG

7/24/2009

Guatemalan Congress: Stop Human Rights Violators from Evading Justice

The Guatemalan Congress should approve a bill to amend Guatemala's injunctive relief (amparo) law. Congress has considered the bill for more than four years; the bill would prevent human rights violators from abusing the amparo law to evade justice. Read HRF's Letter to Guatemala's Congress in English | in Spanish 7/1/2009

Guatemala at a Crossroads

Before the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, hearing entitled ?Guatemala at a Crossroads?, Human Rights First issued a statement urging the rethinking of US foreign policy to Guatemala.

Read HRF Statement

6/11/2009

Coalition Condemns Intimidation in Guatemala

In a letter, eight international organizations, including Human Rights First, condemned the recent death threats against members of two important Guatemalan human rights organizations: Security in Democracy (SEDEM) and the Unit for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders in Guatemala (UDEFEGUA). Letter in English | Letter in Spanish 5/12/2009

Guatemalan Government Should Reinstate Dismissed Human Rights Advisors

Four leading international organizations that work on Guatemala urged the Interior Minister to reverse his decision to dismiss important government human rights advisors. The advisors directed two important institutions that had effectively investigated attacks against Guatemalan human rights defenders. Letter in English | Letter in Spanish

Article in El Periodico (Spanish)

4/29/2009

Demand Investigation into Kidnapping of Gladys Monterroso

On March 25 Gladys Monterroso was kidnapped while eating breakfast and held for 13 hours. Just one day earlier her husband, the Human Rights Ombudsman, released a groundbreaking report documenting the evidence in recently discovered police archives. Take action now to urge the Guatemalan Attorney General to identify and prosecute those responsible for the crime. See Petition in English In Spanish 4/3/2009

Nine Ways that U.S. Foreign Policy Can Strengthen Human Rights in Guatemala

On March 31, Human Rights First and five other organizations sent the Obama administration nine recommendations to strengthen human rights in Guatemala. Proposed policy measures would combat impunity, bring perpetrators of mass atrocity to justice, and protect human rights defenders.

Read the Memo 3/31/2009

NGO Coalition Urges Release of Guatemalan Military Archives

New Defense Minister should release all military archives relating to Guatemala's civil war, which may assist in the prosecution of mass atrocities. (English) (Español)

Listen to Andrew Hudson's Radio Interview on WBAI

2/3/2009

NGOs Call for Investigation of Attacks against Defenders

The Attorney General should investigate the killings of two human rights defenders and threats against others. (Español) 1/23/2009

Human Rights Defender Accused of Attempted Murder

1,135 supporters join HRF's call to drop baseless charges against Jorge Lopez. (English) (Español) 1/22/2009

NGOs Condemn Brutal Attack on Defender's Home

The attempt on Miguel Arturo Albizures Pedrosa's life must be investigated. (Español) 11/7/2008

Attempted Assassination of Yuri Melini

1,404 supporters join HRF's call for prompt investigation of murder attempt against human rights defender. (English) (Español) 9/17/2008

NGO Coalition Highlights Attacks against Defenders to New Guatemalan Attorney General

New Attorney General must investigate emblematic cases of attacks against human rights defenders. (English) (Español) 9/4/2008

Guatemala: Supreme Court Verdict in Mack Case Tremendous Victory (01/22/04)

Action Needed to Protect Freedom of Speech in Guatemala (01/15/04)

Letter to new Guatemalan President (01/14/04)

Inter-American Court Rules in Favor Mack (12/19/03)

Guatemala: U.N. Should Advance Investigative Commission(10/09/03)

Guatemalan Forensic Anthropologists Face Threats and Intimidation (07/08/03)

Public Prosecutor from Mack Case Faces Threats, Intimidation (02/04/03)

Guatemala: Commission to Investigate Illegal Armed Groups Needed (01/17/03)

Juan Chanay Pablo, killed 1993

Judge Epaminondas Gonzalez Dubon, killed 1994

Arnoldo Xi, disappeared 1995

Lucia Tiu Tum and Miguel Us Mejia (killed 1996), and Jose Sucunu Panjoj, disappeared 1994

Hugo Rolando Duarte Cordon, killed 1998

Human Rights Defenders attacked, 1999 to 2002

The case of Myrna Mack, killed in 1990

UN Decision to Extend Mission in Guatemala Welcomed (11/18/02)

Letter on Human Rights Offices Ransacked in Guatemala (07/24/02)

Human Rights Conditions Deteriorating Ltr. to Sec. Powell (07/22/02)

Threats against human rights workers in Guatemala Disturbing (06/14/02)

Threats against Guatemalan human rights workers (03/28/02)

Leaflet distributed threatening Catholic Priests

Translation of the leaflet